The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution on Georgian IDPs and refugees from the Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions, co-sponsored by 54 states, according to Agenda.ge. 

The General Assembly has been adopting the resolution consecutively since 2008, 'reaffirming the fundamental rights of forcefully displaced persons, first and foremost their right of voluntary, safe and dignified return to their homes'.

The resolution condemns 'forced demographic changes in the occupied regions, emphasises the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees, regardless of their ethnicity, to a safe and dignified return to their places of origin, and focuses upon the need to fully respect and protect their property rights'.

It further reiterates the importance of 'unimpeded humanitarian access' in both Russia-occupied Georgian regions.

Adoption of the Resolution during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the work of the United Nations, highlights even stronger the importance of the issue and the urgency of the humanitarian message", the Permanent mission of Georgia to the UN reported.

The resolution also calls upon the participants of the Geneva International Discussions 'to reinvigorate their efforts to ensure security and human rights protection in the occupied regions, which in turn will facilitate the return of IDPs and refugees to their homes'.

He said the presentation of this resolution on behalf of Georgia 'should be viewed as a big success-story' considering 'unprecedented restrictions' imposed throughout the world amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The resolution was passed with 84 votes in favour, 13 against and 78 abstention. 

04 September 2020 / 10:55