The decision “by the de facto Abkhaz authorities” to drop charges against Rashid Kanji-Ogli, Abkhaz serviceman, who was sentenced in absentia over the murder of Giga Otkhozoria, “is worrying, and prevents justice taking its rightful course,”  the European Union said in its June 28 statement at the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference.

“Impunity of serious crimes negatively impacts perceptions of security on the ground,” the EU also said, adding that work on the case and other issues related to security on the ground “must continue.”

In the statement, which was delivered on behalf of the EU member states and ten non-EU countries (Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia) at one of the conference sessions, the European Union stressed that the Geneva International Discussions “continue to be a crucial forum to address and resolve the challenges stemming from the conflict in Georgia.”

The European Union also reiterated “its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders” and “underlined its deep concern about the continuing Russian military and security-related presence, infrastructure reinforcements, ongoing ‘borderization’ and closure of the crossing points in and along the Georgian breakaway regions.”

In this context, the EU went on, “we continue to believe that a clear non-use of force commitment by Russia is necessary.” “The EU calls on Russia to fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008 and its subsequent implementing measures of 8 September 2008 and to grant EUMM access to the breakaway regions.”

The Annual Security Review Conference, held on June 27-29 in Vienna, gathered high-level experts and diplomats to address a broad range of topics related to the  politico-military security in the OSCE.