Today, EUMM Head of Mission, Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, hosted a delegation of the Council of European Union Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST), on a visit to the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) in the Odzisi area.

At the Odzisi crossing point, the Head of EUMM briefed the delegation on the most recent security developments along the ABL and their impact on the daily life and human rights of conflict-affected communities, the EUMM press statement reads.

The Ambassador Szczygieł highlighted the temporary openings of crossing points along the South Ossetian ABL in late August and September, assessing it as a positive step. He also welcomed the announcements of the de facto authorities in Tskhinvali about planned temporary openings of the crossing points at the end of each month until December 2022. However, the Head of EUMM reiterated that the Mission and the OSCE continued to call for the full resumption of freedom of movement across the ABL for the benefit of local communities.

In this regard, the Ambassador Szczygieł further stressed the negative impact that the ongoing ‘borderisation’ activities on local population’s freedom of movement, in particular their access to medical care, education, and social services, the EUMM added.

Today, @EUMMGeorgia_HoM hosted a delegation of @EUCouncil Working Party on Eastern Europe & Central Asia to the ABL in the Odzisi area. He explained how ‘borderisation’ activities have a negative effect on freedom of movement and welcomed temporary openings of crossing points. pic.twitter.com/I0qlRNgyPd

— EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (@EUMMGeorgia) September 28, 2022