MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the killing of Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen, by Russia’s occupying forces in Georgia

21.11.2023 - (2023/2981(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Markéta Gregorová, Heidi Hautala, Hannah Neumann, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Michèle Rivasi, Francisco Guerreiro, Malte Gallée, Bronis Ropė
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0468/2023

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0468/2023

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the killing of Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen, by Russia’s occupying forces in Georgia

(2023/2981(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia and Russia,

– having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

1. whereas on 6 November 2023 Russian Federation Border Guards stationed in the occupied Tskhinvali/South Ossetia region of Georgia killed Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi by shooting him multiple times in the back as he was trying to enter a church near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL);

 

2. whereas the Russian occupying forces illegally detained Georgian citizen, Levan Dotiashvili, before releasing him on 9 November following an emergency meeting of Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM);

 

3. whereas the Russian Federation continues its illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008;

 

4. whereas the Russian occupying forces use practices of illegal detentions and kidnappings of Georgian citizens, erecting artificial barriers, and lengthy closure of so-called crossing points, which continue to cause immense suffering among the civilian population;

 

1. Strongly condemns the killing of Tamas Ginturi by Russian Federation Border Guards near the ABL with the occupied Tskhinvali/South Ossetia region of Georgia;
2. Recalls that several cases of Georgian citizens who died in illegal detention by the occupying forces are still not prosecuted;
3. Condemns the illegal detention of Levan Dotiashvili by the Russian occupation forces; commends the effective meeting of the IPRM resulting in his release; Calls for the immediate release of other Georgian citizens still detained by the occupying forces;
4. Reiterates its condemnation of the illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia by the Russian Federation and deplores recent comments by the Russian MFA calling for formal delineation and demarcation of the ABLs; strongly denounces the illegal detentions, kidnappings and restrictions on the freedom of movement along the ABL as Russia’s illegal occupation of Tskhinvali/South Ossetia claims yet another civilian life;
5. Reiterates its call on the Russian Federation to fulfil its international obligations under the 2008 EU-mediated ceasefire agreement, notably its obligation to withdraw all its military and security personnel from Georgia’s occupied territories and to allow the establishment of international security mechanisms therein as well as access for human rights mechanisms in Georgia’s occupied territories;
6. Calls for the EU to step up its engagement for the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict, especially now that Georgia is moving towards EU candidate status, by effectively using all instruments available, including the Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, the Geneva International Discussions (GID), the IPRMs, and the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia; welcomes in this regard EUMM’s increased monitoring presence along the ABLs;
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the EU, UN and OSCE Co-Chairs of the GID, the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia, and to the President, Government and the Parliament of the Russian Federation.