PROTOCOL On the activities of the sides’ Low Enforcement Bodies against criminality in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict’

17 November 2000, Gori

The situation in the zone of conflict is on the whole stable and controllable. However, grave crimes committed lately by criminal groups create prerequisites for destabilization of the situation and give rise to a perception that the committed crimes are left unpunished.

The representatives of  Law Enforcement Bodies of Georgian and South Ossetian sides with the participation of the JPKF commandment and the OSCE, held a working meeting on coordination of the law enforcement activities, and confirming the legitimate nature of the agreements achieved before, are convinced in the necessity to put an end to criminal groups, and declaring their readiness for further mutual cooperation, the sides agreed:

1. To establish Joint Search Group (detective) by 21 November 2000 consisting of  six persons (three from each side) on investigating crimes committed in Liakhvi gorge. The first working group is to be held on 22 November 2000 at 10.00 a. m. Moscow time at the JPKF HQ.

2. When grave crimes are committed in the zone of the Georgian-ossetian conflict, the Joint Search Group detains and submits the suspect for interrogation to the Investigation Bodies at the place of the crime committed.

3. Upon the fulfillment  of the search activities, the above mentioned Group submits all data to the Investigation Bodies at the place of the crime committed.

4. Upon the sentence coming into force, the criminal serves the sentence at the place of the crime committed.

5. In accordance with the 16 May 1996 Memorandum “on ensuring security and confidence building measures between the sides to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict ” since 17 November 2000 and on, none of the sides will establish additional Law Enforcement units.

6. On 17 November all territorial interior bodies should be tasked to renew and conduct  additional search measures  in  order  to disclose the crimes committed in the past; to react rapidly to citizen’s claims and inform weekly on the work done at the Thursday Law Enforcement meeting.

7. Weapons, ammunition and explosives handed over voluntary by citizens are to be destroyed in accordance with the fixed order. The JPKF are responsible for the weapons’ annihilation.

8. This agreement is an  addendum to the 26 September 1996 Protocol and is valid until the full-scale settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict is achieved.

note:

The South Ossetian representatives did not agree with p. 2.

Amendment suggested by the  South Ossetian Low Enforcement Bodies: “When grave crimes are committed in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, the joint search Group detains and submits the suspect for interrogation to the investigation Bodies at the place of residence”.

Georgian side (signed)                        

South Ossetian side (signed)                        

The JPKF commander  (signed)                                             

The OSCE (signed)                          

(The Archive of the Mission of OSCE to Georgia)