Concern about continuous pattern of harassment and repression of human rights defenders, including trade union leaders, and use of recently promulgated Codification Act against them, which imposes heavy sentences and fines on previously non grievous offences
Abkhazia: Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachev stated that Moscow would not ignore the developments near its southern border; Russian policymakers and Kremlin-connected pundits accuse Tbilisi of organising provocations in Kodori gorge in order to launch an offensive in Abkhazia