News

On March 18, 2021, Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia, Andrius Kalindra held an introductory meeting with the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tea Akhvlediani. The meeting took place at the Administration of the Government of Georgia.

During the meeting, Ambassador Kalindra reiterated Lithuania’s firm support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing the necessity of joint efforts to uphold the rights of those living on the occupied territories in which the international community also has an important role to play.

During the meeting, the attention was drawn to the decision of the 21 January 2021 by the European Court of Human Rights, which stated that Russia is responsible for various human rights abuses in Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the 2008 war. In this regard, Ambassador noted that Russia has to respect this decision and take responsibility for the violation of human rights in the occupied regions of Georgia. Ambassador also condemned ongoing provocations by separatist security forces against Georgian population living near the administrative borderline.

Ambassador expressed support to the Office of the State Minister and Georgia in implementation of emergency humanitarian assistance in occupied territories, as well as policy of reconciliation and involvement.

Given that the Office of the State Minister is the main government structure in charge of the national minority affairs, Ambassador noted the importance of participation of ethnic and national minorities in building, defending the statehood and independence of the state. Ambassador and State Minister discussed a possible working visit from the Department of National Minorities under the Government of Lithuania, designed to boost cooperation between two friendly states in terms of the topic of national, religious and ethnic minority policies.