The peacebuilding policy declared by the Georgian state and the process of trust restoration between conflict-divided communities enjoy full support from both the international community and the Georgian civil society.

The Georgian government’s strategy emphasizes that “an engagement policy aimed at restoring the trust of the populations of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia—populations currently separated by administrative lines and affected by the war—will make a significant contribution to the ultimate resolution of the conflict. Recognizing that parts of the populations in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia hold differing political views, the Georgian authorities consider that, notwithstanding these differences, reconciliation may be achieved through peaceful dialogue, cooperation, and the inclusion of these individuals in ongoing processes.”

The dismantling of the memorial to those who perished as a result of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the 1990s in Kilmarnock, Scotland, at the request of the Georgian authorities, stands in direct contradiction to this commitment. Such actions cannot contribute to the process of trust restoration and jeopardize the efforts made in this regard by the state, the international community, and civil society.

Both societies suffered an irreplaceable tragedy as a result of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, first and foremost due to the loss of thousands of lives. Actions undermining memorials to the deceased—even if such a memorial contains symbolism not officially recognized by Georgia—cannot be justified. We hold that the Georgian side should take the initiative to restore the memorial, thereby demonstrating respect for the memory of the conflict’s victims, irrespective of their ethnicity or political views.

Representatives of civil society support addressing the problem in precisely this manner.

Signatories:

• Civil Forum
• Coalition for the Rights of the Displaced
• Institute for the Study of Nationalism and Conflicts
• Peace and Civil Development Center
• Studio RE
• Center for Peace Development
• Women Entrepreneurs’ Fund
• Georgian Ossetian Association “Ironi”
• Cultural and Humanitarian Fund “Sokhumi”
• Marina Elbakidze