IPRM Meeting Held Near Occupation Line in Ergneti
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The 126th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place on July 21 in the village of Ergneti, near the occupation line with Georgia's Russian-backed Tskhinvali region.
The meeting was co-facilitated by Bettina Patricia Boughani, head of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, and Christoph Späti, special representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus.
Georgia's State Security Service (SSSG) said its delegation raised concerns about "all important incidents" that occurred along the occupation line since the previous IPRM meeting. Among the key issues was a renewed demand for accountability in the fatal shooting of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi in November 2023.
Ginturi was shot by Russian forces near the village of Kirbali during what the SSSG described as an attempted illegal arrest. The agency said it "strongly demanded" justice for Ginturi and called for the immediate release of all individuals held in illegal detention.
The SSSG also condemned illegal so-called borderization activities in the area and raised humanitarian concerns. "Special attention was paid to the issue of free movement," the agency said in its statement.
The EUMM and OSCE co-facilitators emphasized the value of ongoing dialogue through the IPRM. In a joint statement, they praised the "continued commitment" of participants to the format and described it as a "crucial platform" for addressing security concerns and practical needs in conflict-affected areas.
The joint statement also expressed concern about the ongoing practice of detentions. "The EUMM and OSCE co-facilitators reiterated their concern over the continuous practice of detentions," it said. "They also advocated for enhanced freedom of movement, which would facilitate family visits during the summer."
The meeting included discussions on water access, with particular focus on irrigation and wastewater management. The co-facilitators urged practical cooperation to help residents on both sides of the administrative boundary line during the dry season.
Participants also recognized the EUMM-managed hotline as a valuable tool. The press release noted it has helped "establish a shared understanding of security and humanitarian developments."
Igor Kochiev, a representative of the de facto authorities in the Russian-backed Tskhinvali region, described the situation along the occupation line as "stable, calm and predictable." Speaking to journalists after the meeting, he said there had been few violations of the so-called border or airspace.
Kochiev again raised the issue of a Georgian police post near the village of Tsnelisi/Uista. "The problem is constantly voiced, and the South Ossetian side has proposed withdrawing this post from the territory of the republic," he said. He added that removing the post was the "only possible solution" and would improve conditions for residents on the right bank of the Lopan River.
