PROTOCOL on verification the facts of human rights violation in Gagra

In compliance with the task assigned by the Joint Commission (Protocol 3 of 8 August 1993) the working group on the Problems of Refugees and War Prisoners, composed of:

A. Gegia – from the Georgian side,

B. Kobakhia – from the Abkhaz side

N. Chulkov – from the Russian side

for verifying the facts of human rights violations visited the village Bzib, which reportedly the Georgian nationals left for the Psou border point. In the village Bzib the members of the commission visited three Georgian families and one - Russian. In the course of interview it was found that they lived normally, without intention to leave. One of the Georgian families stated that marauders in masks raid on their house and robbed them.

In the course of the visit in the village of Bzib the group of the Joint Commission established that all the houses were untouched, without trace of burning or destruction.

The members of the Commission met the head of Gagra administration (…)Yazychba. He explained that the families of Georgian ethnic decided to leave the places of their permanent residence for the security purposes.

During visiting the settlements the following facts were established:

- acts of marauding and robbing happen during the nighttime;

- unknown individuals intimidate the people with the physical coercion in order to make them leave the places of their permanent residence;

- the local administration helps the people to leave in organized manner;

- one of the citizens stated that the officials (district officers) were regularly visiting them to find out about their intention regarding leaving the place of permanent residence.

The administration of the village (Agrba Z.A.) informed the commission that from 3100 dwellers of Georgian nationality 200 lived in the village that day. It was also stated that the administration is unable to secure the protection of Georgian nationals and for the sake of their life the withdrawal of Georgian families from Abkhazia was the only possible way to save them. Z. Agrba said that the meeting of the Elders had decided that the further coexistence of the Abkhaz and Georgian nationals would not be possible. In case of return of the Abkhaz dwellers in the village, who participated in the military operations, the conflict would definitely emerge between the local citizens. The head of the administration noted that the Georgian dwellers of the village repeatedly asked the administration for assisting in leaving the village.

The head of the administration of the village of Bzib made a decision on helping the Georgian families to leave it in organized manner; however, the established term of leaving was not observed due to the problems relating to the currency exchange. The administration of the village had helped them to exchange 20 000 rubles for per person; then the new date for leaving was set up (9 August 1993).

At the Adler Airport the members of the Commission met the citizens of Georgian nationality, who had left Bzib on 9 August 1993.

In the course of interview at the Adler Airport it was established that about 90 Georgians had left Bzib on 9 August 1993. All citizens, who had left the village, got the special reference in their passports about canceling the registration at the place of permanent residence. Some of the citizens mentioned that they had not written personally the application on canceling the registration; instead they were offered to sign the forms that were already filled in and hand over the passports for canceling the registration.

Many of those interviewed at the Adler Airport stated that some unknown people resorted to the violent and forcible measures to make them leave the village.

The working group offers to the Joint Commission to take notice of this information.

From the Abkhaz side (signed)

From the Russian side (signed)

From the Georgian side (signed)

Gagra, 9 August 1993

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