Protocol, The Sukhumi Meeting between the Geogian and Abkhaz Sides on the Implementation of the Protocol of 24 September 1998 and Other Measures Aimed at Stabilization of the Situation in the Zones of Security and Limited Weaponry

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: Georgia
Abkhazia
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Protocol, The Sukhumi Meeting between the Geogian and Abkhaz Sides on the Implementation of the Protocol of 24 September 1998 and Other Measures Aimed at Stabilization of the Situation in the Zones of Security and Limited Weaponry
Date: 3 Feb 2000
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Georgian Separatist Conflicts (1989 - )
The Abkhazia-Georgia Conflict (1992 - )
Much like other conflicts that sprung up in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Abkhazia conflict emerged as an ethnic conflict following heighten nationalist awareness among Abkhaz and other minorities residing in the region. In 1978, protests against the Georgianization of Abkhazia emerged from Abkhaz intellectuals. Towards the end of the 1980s, both Georgian and Abkhaz nationalists demanded independence from the Soviet Union. Tensions began following clashes at Sukhumi University between pro-Unity protestors and Abkhaz nationalists in April-July 1989. However, the conflict remained a legal conflict up until August 1992 following the 1991 elections, wherein Abkhazians felt they were under-represented. War broke out between Abkhaz separatists, supported by Russian forces and hired fighters from the North Caucus. Within Abkhazia, Abkhaz separatists were generally supported by ethnically Armenian and Russian residents. Within Georgia the conflict was exacerbated following conflict in South Ossetia from 1989 onwards in addition to political strife between the supporters of the ousted president, Zviad Gamsakurdia, and the post-coup government led by Eduard Shevardnadze.

Significant human rights abuses occurred, particularly after the capture of Sukhumi in September 1993, after which Georgian residents, which consisted of 45 per cent of the population in 1989, were faced with mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing. Russian Peacekeepers acting under the umbrella of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), were deployed on the Abkhazia-Georgia line following a ceasefire in 1994. Atrocities towards ethnic Georgian’s continued with over 1,500 deaths post-conflict. In 1998 fighting re-erupted following a flare up of fighting in South Ossetia. Again it was resolved with a ceasefire agreement. However, as of 2016 the conflict remains unresolved.

The Russio-Georgian War (South Ossetia) (1989 - )
Following heightened nationalist awareness among Ossetians and policies undertaken at the expense of ethnic minorities by the Georgian government led by President Gamsakurdia, calls for Ossetian Independence increased. After clashes broke out in Tskhinvali during a pro-Georgia protest, the conflict began to militarize. When President Gamsakurdia maintained his position after elections in 1990, which were boycotted by South Ossetia, Ossetians organised elections for their own parliament. The central Georgian government reacted by abolishing the autonomous status previously held by South Ossetia. The formation of ethnic militias and increased attacks on civilians escalated on both sides and in December 1990 a state of emergency and an economic blockade were declared. Fighting was haphazard as fighters on both sides were poorly equipped and disciplined. The Georgian National Guard was primarily formed of volunteers due to a lack of resources and as a result fighters often acted out of self-interest. Assaults on Tskhinvali by Georgian forces were repulsed on several occasions, and Georgian forces were also noted to expel Ossetian residents and destroy villages out of revenge and as a means to re-claim territory.

The Sochi agreement (1992) established a ceasefire and security corridor, as well as divided the territory between Georgian and Ossetian administration. Relations deteriorated drastically in April 2008, and following shelling of Georgian villages on August 1, the Georgian military responded in force retaking most of Tskhinvali by August 7. Russian forces intervened on behalf of Ossetian separatists and after retaking Tskihvali, opened another front in the Kordori Gorge. A ceasefire was brokered on August 12, and the Kremlin declared its recognition of the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26. Russian forces have since strengthened their military presence in those regions in violation of the ceasefire.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Abkhazia peace process
Parties: On Behalf of the Abkhaz Side, Mr. V. Tsugba; On Behalf of the Georgian Side, Mr. V. Lortkipanidze;
Third parties: On Behalf of the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces, Mr. S. Korobko; On Behalf of the UN, Mr. D. Boden
Description: Short agreement renewing commitment to a number of previous agreements and outlining the implementation means of the Protocol of 24 September 1998.

Agreement document: GE_980928_Sukhumi Meeting.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media logistics
Page 2, 4. The Parties undertake to materialize the point 3 of the Protocol of 21 December 1998 on the
establishment of permanent telephone "hot" line between the heads of the Gali and Zugdidi Administration and between the field commanders acting in the zones of security and limited weaponry, and in conformity with the point 4 of the same Protocol to settle the issue of rotation of armed formations located along the line dividing the Parties.

Page 2, 6. In order to guarantee the implementation of the provisions of this Protocol, the Parties commit themselves to maintain permanent connection and if necessary, to undertake joint measures.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: Page 1, However, the operative situation in the zones of security and limited weaponry remains rather tense. There are a lot of cases of subversive activities and terrorist acts. In most cases, the victims of these illegal activities are law enforcement personnel and civilian population.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 2, 2. The Parties, together with the CIS Peace-Keeping Forces and UNOMIG, will undertake within a month all appropriate measures to withdraw from the zones of security and limited weaponry all illegal armed groups and individuals.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: Page 1, However, the operative situation in the zones of security and limited weaponry remains rather tense. There are a lot of cases of subversive activities and terrorist acts. In most cases, the victims of these illegal activities are law enforcement personnel and civilian population.

Page 2, 5. In conformity with the Gagra Protocol of 25 May 1998, the Parties commit themselves to undertake all necessary measures to prevent penetration of criminal armed formations and individuals into the zones of security and limited weaponry.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: Page 1, However, the operative situation in the zones of security and limited weaponry remains rather tense. There are a lot of cases of subversive activities and terrorist acts. In most cases, the victims of these illegal activities are law enforcement personnel and civilian population.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: Page 2, 3. ... Within the same time limit, the Georgian side will transfer to the Abkhaz side the bodies of those individuals perished on 25 January 2000.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: On Behalf of the UN, Mr. D. Boden
Other international signatory: On Behalf of the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces, Mr. S. Korobko;
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, 1. Based on the point 1 of the Protocol dated 24 January 1998, the Parties, together with the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces and UNOMIG, commit themselves to calculate within a month the number of military personal and weaponry in the zones of security and limited weaponry and bring it down to the level agreed before and will not allow it to exceed the limit in the future.

Page 2, 2. The Parties, together with the CIS Peace-Keeping Forces and UNOMIG, will undertake within a month all appropriate measures to withdraw from the zones of security and limited weaponry all illegal armed groups and individuals.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Relief Web; http://reliefweb.int/report/georgia/protocol-sukhumi-meeting-between-georgian-and- abkhaz-sides-stabilization-situation

PROTOCOL

The Sukhumi Meeting between the Georgian and Abkhaz Sides on the Implementation of the Protocol of 24 September 1998 and Other Measures Aimed at Stabilization of the Situation in the Zones of Security and Limited Weaponry

In accordance with an Agreement of 14 May 1994, Statement of 14 August of 1997, Protocol of 25 May 1998, Protocol of 24 September 1998, and Protocol of 21 December 1998, during this period of time the Parties have fulfilled a number of pledged commitments.

Namely, point 2 of the Protocol dated 21 September 1998 on clarification of the demarcation line in villages of Nabakevi, Khurcha, Otobaia and Gamakhuri between the armed formations of the sides to the conflict, has been fulfilled.

In accordance with point 3 of this Protocol, permanent operative connections between the heads of Zugdidi and Gali Administrations are maintained.

Besides, on 19 January 2000 in Tbilisi, the Sides to the conflict signed a Protocol on establishment of a joint group to investigate politically motivated crimes.

The group has started its activities.

However, the operative situation in the zones of security and limited weaponry remains rather tense.

There are a lot of cases of subversive activities and terrorist acts.

In most cases, the victims of these illegal activities are law enforcement personnel and civilian population.

The practice of taking hostages has become commonplace.

The point 1 of the Protocol of 24 September 1998, according to which the Parties were obliged to reduce their military presence in the zones of security and limited weaponry to the number, laid down in the Moscow Agreement of 14 May 1994, has not been fulfilled.

All the aforementioned constitute a serious threat of the resumption of hostilities between the parties.

Acting in the spirit of signed agreements on refusal to use force or threat of use of force, the Parties have agreed on the following:

1. Based on the point 1 of the Protocol dated 24 January 1998, the Parties, together with the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces and UNOMIG, commit themselves to calculate within a month the number of military personal and weaponry in the zones of security and limited weaponry and bring it down to the level agreed before and will not allow it to exceed the limit in the future.

2. The Parties, together with the CIS Peace-Keeping Forces and UNOMIG, will undertake within a month all appropriate measures to withdraw from the zones of security and limited weaponry all illegal armed groups and individuals.

3. Within two month, the Parties will release all the hostages taken by the armed formation from December 1999 to January 2000.

Within the same time limit, the Georgian side will transfer to the Abkhaz side the bodies of those individuals perished on 25 January 2000.

4. The Parties undertake to materialize the point 3 of the Protocol of 21 December 1998 on the establishment of permanent telephone "hot" line between the heads of the Gali and Zugdidi Administration and between the field commanders acting in the zones of security and limited weaponry, and in conformity with the point 4 of the same Protocol to settle the issue of rotation of armed formations located along the line dividing the Parties.

5. In conformity with the Gagra Protocol of 25 May 1998, the Parties commit themselves to undertake all necessary measures to prevent penetration of criminal armed formations and individuals into the zones of security and limited weaponry.

6. In order to guarantee the implementation of the provisions of this Protocol, the Parties commit themselves to maintain permanent connection and if necessary, to undertake joint measures.

On Behalf of the Georgian Side Mr. V. Lortkipanidze

On Behalf of the UN

Mr. D. Boden

On Behalf of the Abkhaz Side Mr. V. Tsugba

On Behalf of the CIS Peace- Keeping Forces Mr. S. Korobko