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having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia and Georgia,

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having regard to Rule 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.

whereas on 6 November 2023, on the eve of the Commission’s presentation of the enlargement package, Russian occupying forces killed Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi, and abducted and then released Levan Dotiashvili, following international pressure; whereas this happened in the village of Kirbali near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL);

B.

whereas the killing is another instance of Russia’s illegal arrests and kidnappings in Georgia’s occupied regions and represents Russia’s blatant disregard for international law and human life, including by committing ethnic discrimination, installing barbed wire fences, erecting barriers, conducting illegal military exercises and closing the ABL’s ‘crossing points’, all of which cause suffering and increase the risk of escalation;

C.

whereas Russia continues its illegal occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia in violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008; whereas Russia completely isolates the occupied regions from the rest of Georgia and the international community, making it impossible for UN missions and the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) to carry out their mandates fully;

D.

whereas the Russian occupiers exercise impunity for the brutal murder of internally displaced Georgian citizens, including Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria and Davit Basharuli, and for the death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia; whereas others, like Irakli Beuba remain imprisoned; whereas in 2018, the Georgian Government adopted the ‘Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili List’ of individuals accused and convicted of violating human rights in the occupied regions;