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Along the Occupation Line
Date Issued
2023
Publisher
Abstract
Wars, natural disasters, pandemics always remain the greatest challenges of mankind. The 21th century did not turn out to be an exception in this respect either. Georgia has gone through some of the most difficult periods since the 1990s - several wars, occupied territories, barbed wire “borders”, deserted villages and towns, tens of thousands of IDPs, arbitrary regimes imposed by the occupying state in full violation of international law and constant influencing of the population on both sides of the occupation line. A creeping occupation that is still a part of our reality today.
Full of tragic stories of many people, the recent past has been revived by the events in Ukraine today. Modern technology makes us witness the war - we watch it on TV, on social networks, live. Mankind has never had a similar experience. If there had been an opportunity to disseminate information similarly during the Russia-Georgia wars of 1992 or 2008 and if we had an appropriate response from the democratic world, we would probably be living in a different reality today, and presumably neither would the Russia-Ukraine war with hundreds and thousands of casualties have occurred.
Regulations established by international law also apply in war situations and cover all areas. These include cultural heritage: monuments, objects, museums. The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols (1954 and 1999) set out the responsibilities of the parties in a similar situation. But what happens after the war? In our reality, the settlements occupied by Russia in the Tskhinvali region are separated by an “occupation line”. Movement of Georgian citizens is prohibited in the occupied parts of the country. Access to the ongoing processes would onlybe possible with the participation of international organizations. The situation is dire near the so-called “Occupation line” - including creeping occupation, kidnapping, imprisonment and various other incidents.
After the Russian-Georgian war in August 2008, the house-museum of famous 19th century public figures, father and son, George and David Eristavi, located in the village of Odzisi (Dusheti municipality), was 500 meters from the occupation line. Built in the Eristavi Palace (Cultural Heritage Site) in the early 19th century, the museum has been operating since 1961 and combines highly interesting collections of life and work of the Eristavis.
What are the challenges facing the museum near the occupation line? What sets it apart from others? What is its role and significance?
Full of tragic stories of many people, the recent past has been revived by the events in Ukraine today. Modern technology makes us witness the war - we watch it on TV, on social networks, live. Mankind has never had a similar experience. If there had been an opportunity to disseminate information similarly during the Russia-Georgia wars of 1992 or 2008 and if we had an appropriate response from the democratic world, we would probably be living in a different reality today, and presumably neither would the Russia-Ukraine war with hundreds and thousands of casualties have occurred.
Regulations established by international law also apply in war situations and cover all areas. These include cultural heritage: monuments, objects, museums. The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols (1954 and 1999) set out the responsibilities of the parties in a similar situation. But what happens after the war? In our reality, the settlements occupied by Russia in the Tskhinvali region are separated by an “occupation line”. Movement of Georgian citizens is prohibited in the occupied parts of the country. Access to the ongoing processes would onlybe possible with the participation of international organizations. The situation is dire near the so-called “Occupation line” - including creeping occupation, kidnapping, imprisonment and various other incidents.
After the Russian-Georgian war in August 2008, the house-museum of famous 19th century public figures, father and son, George and David Eristavi, located in the village of Odzisi (Dusheti municipality), was 500 meters from the occupation line. Built in the Eristavi Palace (Cultural Heritage Site) in the early 19th century, the museum has been operating since 1961 and combines highly interesting collections of life and work of the Eristavis.
What are the challenges facing the museum near the occupation line? What sets it apart from others? What is its role and significance?
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