Today at 22:41
This is the Abano Village. The demarcation line is just 100 meters away.
Signs “Republic of South Osetia” and “Warning! State border, do not cross!” are clearly visible. The signs were put by the occupiers. But the signs aren’t the only things guarding the demarcation line.
The 400 meter long provisional borders stretches across 50 Georgian villages. This year alone human rights activists have reported more than 60 illegal arrests. In some cases the arrested didn’t even cross the demarcation line.
On weekends, Alika Kardava goes to Georgia’s border with so-called South Ossetia. He is one of the 30 volunteers who monitor the movement of the Russian troops along the demarcation line. Keeping out of sight, they watch the provisional border. Any violations they record, they later stream online.
The villages near the occupied Tskhinvali regoin have been visited by volunteers of the ‘Strength is in Unity’ movement since June last year, after an increase of the number of reported arrests. The volunteers pitched their camp close by. They are constantly monitoring the demarcation line.
Several days ago the volunteers spotted Russian soliders on Georgian-controlled land. They were patrolling the dolomite and talc quarries.
The volunteers are also worried by the situation on the road from the Georgian-controlled Koda village. A 250 meter part of the road passes through occupied territory. Russian soldiers were sighted there several days ago. The police defend the road together with the volunteers, but the latter say that it is still not enough.
In the near future, the volunteers plan to extend their surveillance to the Truso ravine. They say that the ravine is in danger of being gradually occupied.
