Georgia

The HALO Trust, the only international operator undertaking survey and clearance in Georgia in recent years, has now withdrawn from the country. HALO’s explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operations in Abkhazia, an autonomous republic outside the effective control of the Georgian government, were suspended on 31 March 2023, due to lack of donor funding. No land release was undertaken in Abkhazia or in Tbilisi Administered Territory (TAT) by HALO or by Georgia’s national operators during the year. In February 2023, it was reported that a naval mine of unspecified type and origin exploded in the Black Sea, approximately 25 metres from land in Batumi, south west Georgia.

• Georgia should accede to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) as a matter of priority.
• Georgia should clear anti-personnel (AP) mines in areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, consonant with its obligations under international human rights law.
• Georgia should continue to engage in bilateral political dialogue with Azerbaijan as well as multilateral dialogue with all stakeholders via the Landmine Free South Caucasus (LMFSC) Campaign, to enable full clearance of the Red Bridge border minefield.
• Georgia should develop a resource mobilisation strategy and engage with donors to secure the resources needed to complete clearance.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2024" report for Georgia.