The 67th round of the International Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia took place at the Palace of Nations, the United Nations Office at Geneva, on 30 June and 1 July 2026. The talks are convened under the Medvedev-Sarkozy Plan of 12 August 2008 and its implementing arrangements of 8 September 2008. Delegations from the Republic of South Ossetia, the Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia, the Russian Federation and the United States took part, with the European Union, the United Nations and the OSCE serving as co-chairs. The South Ossetian delegation was led by Konstantin Kochiyev, State Counsellor to the President.
Discussions focused on current regional security issues and on maintaining stability in the areas adjacent to the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia, as well as between Abkhazia and Georgia. The security situation along the border was assessed as relatively stable. The South Ossetian and Russian sides stressed that delimitation of the state border between the Republic of South Ossetia and Georgia, followed by demarcation, would be the single most important factor in sustaining and strengthening stability and security in the region.
Participants once again underlined the effectiveness of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) established under the IDST format, together with the operational hotline.
The South Ossetian, Abkhaz and Russian participants stated that the effectiveness of efforts to ensure security and further normalise the situation in the region depends directly on Georgia's acceptance of a legally binding commitment not to use force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Representatives of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Russia expressed concern about the intensification of efforts to integrate Georgia into the North Atlantic military alliance. Large-scale military exercises involving NATO contingents on Georgian territory were described as a factor threatening regional stability and security.
As part of the broader security and humanitarian situation, participants discussed the search for South Ossetian citizens abducted or reported missing on Georgian territory. The South Ossetian delegation urged the Georgian side to stop obstructing the issue and to take practical steps towards its resolution.
The South Ossetian delegation once again drew serious attention to continuing gross violations by Georgia of the rights of Ossetians from the Kazbegi district (Tyrsigom), whom the Georgian authorities have for many years denied access to their ancestral lands.
In response to another Georgian resolution on refugee issues submitted to the UN General Assembly, the South Ossetian and Abkhaz participants issued a joint statement. They said the refugee issue could return to the GID agenda only if Georgia abandoned what they called the artificial politicisation of the problem and ended the practice of discussing such matters behind the backs of other states with a stake in their resolution.
Participants also exchanged views on a range of other humanitarian issues. The next round of the International Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia is scheduled for November 2026.
Geneva, 2 July 2026