**Georgia‘s Human Rights Watchdog Criticizes Government Over Abkhazia**
The Social Justice Center (SJC), a local human rights group, has spoken out against the Georgian government’s handling of tensions in occupied Abkhazia. The SJC says that the government’s silence and inaction on the issue are “yet another indicator” that they have no real peace policy for conflict regions.
Recently, several opposition leaders were arrested in Abkhazia after protesting a controversial legislative package that would allow Russian investors to buy land and property in the occupied region. The SJC has criticized the Georgian government for not speaking out against these arrests or Russia’s actions in the region.
**”Policy of Silence” Damages Georgia’s Interests**
The SJC has accused the Georgian government of having a “policy of silence and inaction” towards Abkhazia, which they say is damaging to Georgia’s interests. The watchdog group says that this approach contradicts Georgia’s sovereign rights and its obligations to protect human rights on the territory.
The SJC also claims that the government has no vision or strategy to respond to Russia’s annexation of Abkhazia, and that their inaction is fostering a sense of normalizing Russian expansion and annexation processes. They stress that strengthening Russia’s economic dominance in Abkhazia is detrimental to Black Sea security.
**New Peace Policy Needed**
The SJC has called on the Georgian government to develop a new peace policy for Abkhazia, emphasizing regional security and stability. They also lament that the government has ignored international efforts and failed to renew the previous government’s peace policy document.
The watchdog group concludes by urging civil society, political parties, and the media to engage in an active discussion about the issues in Abkhazia and to start a broad social and political dialogue to develop a new democratic and European peace policy for the region.
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