The 98th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism was held in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia and Ambassador Annika Söder, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus.   

The co-facilitators reiterated their serious worries regarding the deepening socio-economic hardships of the conflict-affected population, which stem from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the so-called crossing points.

Georgian side raised the issue of the unconditional release of our fellow citizens from illegal detention. Representatives of the central government of Georgia also talked about the incidents observed in the occupied territories in recent months - including the illegal borderization and illegal exercises.

All participants agreed to continue their dialogue through regular IPRM meetings and the EUMM-managed Hotline. The participants agreed to plan for a subsequent meeting on 23 April 2021.