In response to claims made on 29 September that “border demarcation works” have taken place in Kvemo Nikozi, Zemo Nikozi, Ditsi, Arbo and Kordi in the Shida Kartli region, the EU Monitoring Mission sent patrols to these villages and surrounding areas. EUMM monitors have spoken extensively with the local authorities and the local population and visited the places in question.
The patrols have so far found 4 improvised steel markers in the ground at Ditsi, close to the Administrative Boundary Line, but were unable to find any further evidence of “demarcation” activities in the other areas. The Mission is keeping the situation under review.
If proved part of a policy aimed at unilateral demarcation, these activities would not be acceptable as they would be undermining Georgian territorial integrity.