Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• Although Russia is not mentioned by name, the resolution implicitly criticizes Russia's military aggression in Georgia, expressing concern about the humanitarian situation caused by the 2008 armed conflict and forced demographic changes.
• The European Court of Justice has found Russia guilty of numerous violations during that war, including ethnic cleansing of Georgian civilians, the burning of their houses, and their expulsion from homes in the Tskhinvali region — the subject of this resolution. By recognizing the right of return for these refugees, and stressing the need to respect their property rights, the resolution implicitly rejects the occupation of these parts of Georgia by Russian-affiliated local authorities.
• The resolution would have been stronger if it had addressed Russia directly, referring to it by name.

Main Sponsors

Georgia

Vote

Yes - 107, No - 9, Abstain - 49, Absent - 28

See Full Vote

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

• "Concerned by forced demographic changes resulting from the conflicts in Georgia."
• "Concerned also by the humanitarian situation caused by armed conflict in August 2008, which resulted in the further forced displacement of civilians."
• "Recognizes the right of return of all internally displaced persons and refugees and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity, to their homes throughout Georgia, including in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia."
• "Stresses the need to respect the property rights of all internally displaced persons and refugees affected by the conflicts in Georgia and to refrain from obtaining property in violation of those rights."