Contamination and Impact

Georgia is contaminated with mines around former Soviet military bases, along its international borders, and as a result of conflict with the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Historically, the bulk of the mine problem in Georgia resulted from mines placed around former Russian military bases. The precise extent of the residual mine problem has not been reported publicly. According to the Georgian Ministry of Defense, in 2009 suspected mined areas were located at Akhalqalaqi, Gonio Firing Range, Kopitnari, Mtskheta, Osiauri, Sagarejo, Telavi, and Vaziani.[1] Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) conducted a General Mine Action Assessment (GMAA) for Georgia from October 2009 to January 2010, which identified eight suspect hazardous areas (SHAs) and seven confirmed hazardous areas (CHAs) in 13 districts, the latter of which totaled more than 4.5km² in estimated area.[2] Between 2009 and the end of 2012, HALO Trust cleared five of the minefields with a humanitarian impact and identified one additional small minefield.[3] It is not known if any of the other military areas have been cleared.

There is also an unfenced 7km-long minefield at the “Red Bridge” border crossing between Azerbaijan and Georgia.[4]

Since the 1990–2 Georgian-Ossetian war, and more recently the 2008 conflict with Russia, South Ossetia has been difficult to access. According to HALO, there has been persistent low-level mine-laying, primarily in areas between Georgian- and South Ossetian-controlled villages. Although HALO has been unable to gain sufficient access to South Ossetia to assess the mine threat fully, it noted at least 15 mine casualties reported in 2008–10. HALO has planned to conduct non-technical survey in South Ossetia, but has not been granted access.[5]

Mine Action Program

There does not appear to be a functioning mine action program in Georgia.