According to the statement, among other important issues, the need for the EUMM to enter the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region and to operate throughout Georgia in accordance with its mandate was raised during the talks.

"On October 13, 2021, the 54th round of the Geneva International Discussions were held, during which the main issues of discussion were the release of illegally detained Georgian citizens, de facto annexation of the occupied territories and humanitarian problems of the local population.

During the talks, the Georgian delegation strongly emphasized the recent steps taken by Moscow towards the de facto annexation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, including the implementation of a "program" for the creation of a single socio-economic space, the signing of the so-called dual citizenship agreement, annexation of a part of the village of Aibga and attempted unilateral delimitation-demarcation of the section of the occupied territories of the Russian-Georgian state border. Georgian participants noted that the holding of Russian parliamentary elections in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region to elect the majoritarian deputies to the State Duma clearly indicate the ongoing annexation.

One of the main topics of discussion was Russia's non-fulfillment of the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008: the widespread militarization of the occupied territories, illegal military exercises and violations of Georgian airspace, as well as barbed wire fences and other artificial barricades erected by the Russian Federal Security Service soldiers on the occupation line. According to the Georgian representatives, Moscow's illegal statements on the so-called delimitation-demarcation of the occupation line are completely unacceptable. The only solution to the issue can be de-occupation of Georgian territories. During the discussions, significant attention was paid to the process of creeping occupation near the village of Chorchana, which creates a danger of escalation of the situation on the ground”, the statement reads.

Georgian representatives stressed the need for justice in the murders of Davit Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria and Archil Tatunashvili, and continued to raise the issue of the death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia at a Russian military base in the Abkhaz region," the statement said.

As per the Georgian Foreign Ministry, due to the destructive position of the representatives of Russia and its occupation regimes, the discussions failed to address one of the most important issues on the agenda - the safe and dignified return of IDPs and refugees expelled from the occupied territories. As soon as the issue was raised, participants from Moscow, Sukhumi and Tskhinvali tried to politicize the topic and left the talks.

The next round of talks will be held on December 7-8, 2021.