Final Document of the Moscow Meeting (Moscow Ceasefire)

• Country/entity

  Georgia
  Russia
  Abkhazia
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Final Document of the Moscow Meeting (Moscow Ceasefire)
• Date

  3 Sep 1992
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Georgian Separatist Conflicts (1989 - ) )
• Stage

  Ceasefire/related
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Abkhazia peace process
• Parties

  Signatories: FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION;
  G. s. Khizha
  A. v. Kozyrev
  P. s.Grachev
  A. M. Mirzabekov
  M. M. Magomedov
  B.M. Kokov
  K. M. Karmokov
  v.N. Saveliev
  v. I. Khubiev
  s. v. Khetagurov
  A. K. Galazov
  A. A.Dzharimov
  
  FOR THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA
  T. I.Siqua
  T. K. Kitovani
  A.D. Chikvaidze
  A. K. Tleuzh
  v. N.Diakonov
  E. s.Kuznetsov
  v. F. Choub
  
  Abkhazia [although not recognized as such in agreement]
  v. G. Ardzinba
  v. I. Zarandia
  T.Nadareishvili
• Third parties

  Preamble notes participation of leaders of Abkhazia and the North Caucasian republics, territories and regions of the Russian Federation
• Description

  Parties agreed to a ceasefire and affirmed territorial integrity of Georgia. Provided for establishment of a monitoring and inspection commission; an agreed level of armed forces, exchange of detainees, hostages and prisoners and prohibition and prevention of all terrorist acts or taking of hostages. Also made provision for removal of obstacles to free movement; creation of conditions for return of refugees and steps to search for those who have disappeared, as well as steps to rehabilitate the area and to ensure availability of humanitarian assistance. Reaffirmed need to respect human rights and rights of national minorities, to prevent discrimination, and to hold free and democratic elections. Parties also agreed to assist legitimate authorities in Abkhazia to resume their normal functions and appealed for fact-finding missions and observers.

• Agreement document

  RU_GE_920903_Moscow Agreement.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Moscow Agreement

The President of the Russian Federation and the President of the State Council of the Republic of Georgia,

Having considered, with the participation of the leaders of Abkhazia and the North Caucasian republics, territories and regions of the Russian Federation, the situation in Abkhazia,

Seeking an immediate cease-fire, a solution to the crisis and the creation of conditions for a comprehensive political settlement in Abkhazia, which has become an area of military conflict,

Reaffirming their commitment to the spirit and the letter of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Paris Charter for a New Europe and the Helsinki Declaration of 1992,

Considering inadmissible any infringement of the universally recognized principles of the territorial integrity of States and the inviolability of borders,

Respecting human rights and freedoms as well as the rights of national minorities,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia shall be ensured.

All armed formations taking part in the conflict shall cease their fire and all use of force against each other as of 5 September 1992 at noon.

Prior to the entry into force of the cease-fire, the parties to the conflict shall undertake to refrain from any offensive actions.

A Monitoring and Inspection Commission, composed of representatives to be appointed by the authorities of Georgia, including Abkhazia, and Russia, shall be established immediately.

The Commission shall ensure compliance with the cease-fire and with other provisions of this agreement, in accordance with the procedures to be elaborated by it.

In order for the Commission to function, members shall assign to it appropriate units to carry out disarmament, disbanding and withdrawal from Abkhazia and to prevent illegal armed formations and groups from entering Abkhazia, in order to maintain the entire conflict zone perimeter under strict control.

Once the cease-fire is in force and troops have been deployed, the Commission shall ensure that the armed forces of the Republic of Georgia present in the conflict zone do not exceed the agreed level required for the purposes of this agreement (protection of the railway and certain other installations).

Recommendations by the Commission shall be given immediate consideration by the authorities at all levels.

Article 2

Until 10 September 1992, exchanges of detainees, hostages, prisoners and others shall take place in accordance with the principle "all for all".

Article 3

The Parties shall prohibit and prevent all terrorist acts or the taking of hostages and shall take effective steps to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Article 4

Measures shall be taken promptly to remove any impediment to the free movement of goods and services and of persons engaging in lawful activities.

The smooth and uninterrupted operation of land, air and sea communications and the protection of borders shall .be ensured accordingly.

Particular emphasis shall be placed on guaranteeing the security of relevant segments of the Transcaucasian railway through the establishment of a joint mechanism.

The Monitoring and Inspection Commission shall submit the requisite recommendations on this subject.

Article 5

Conditions shall be created for the return of refugees to their permanent homes.

Refugees will be provided with the necessary relief and assistance.

Steps will be taken to search for persons who have disappeared and to evacuate those wishing to leave Abkhazia.

Article 6

Effective measures shall be taken within the conflict zone to halt and prevent acts of violence and looting and to bring perpetrators to justice.

Article 7

The Parties shall take steps to rehabilitate affected regions and to ensure that humanitarian assistance, including international assistance, is made available to the population affected by the conflict.

The Red Cross, in consultation with the Monitoring and Inspection Commission, shall identify the procedure for the delivery and distribution of relief.

Article 8

The Parties reaffirm the need to respect international standards in the area of human rights and national minorities, to prevent discrimination based on nationality, language or religion and to hold free democratic elections.

Article 9

The armed forces of the Russian Federation which are temporarily located in the territory of the Republic of Georgia, including Abkhazia, shall remain strictly neutral and shall not take part in internal disputes.

All authorities and administrative entities in the Republic of Georgia, including Abkhazia, agree to respect the neutrality of the Russian armed forces deployed in the territory and to halt immediately all unlawful acts committed by soldiers, members of their families and military property.

Article 10

The Parties shall assist the legitimate authorities in Abkhazia to resume their normal functions by 15 September 1992.

Article 11

The authorities and administrative entities of the North Caucasian republics, regions and territories which form part of the Russian Federation shall take effective measures to halt and prevent all acts waged from their territory that are in violation of the provisions of this agreement.

They shall promote respect for this agreement and the restoration of peace in the region.

They shall take all necessary steps to explain the provisions of this agreement to the population.

Article 12

The Parties appeal to the United Nations and to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to support the principles of settlement set out above and to promote respect for them, particularly by sending fact-finding missions and observers.

Moscow, 3 September 1992

FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION FOR THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

Have agreed

G. s. Khizha v. G. Ardzinba T. I.Siqua

A. v. Kozyrev v. I. Zarandia T. K. Kitovani

P. s.Grachev T.Nadareishvili A.D. Chikvaidze

A. M. Mirzabekov

M. M. Magomedov B.M. Kokov

K. M. Karmokov

v.N. Saveliev

v. I. Khubiev A. K. Tleuzh

s. v. Khetagurov v. N.Diakonov

A. K. Galazov E. s.Kuznetsov

A. A.Dzharimov v. F. Choub