Head of EU Monitoring Mission Leaves His Post

Kęstutis Jankauskas, head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), is leaving his post to assume a new role as the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan, EUMM announced in its August 25 press release.

Jankauskas, a Lithuanian career diplomat, was appointed as the Head of EUMM in December 2014, after serving as Lithuania’s ambassador to NATO since 2011. He will assume his new post in Azerbaijan on September 1.

On August 22, Jankauskas met Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, who awarded him with the Order of Honor of Georgia “in recognition of his personal contribution and efforts in providing peace and safety in Georgia,” reads the EUMM press release.

Danish diplomat Erik Hoeeg will serve as the Acting Head of Mission until the new permanent Head is appointed.

The EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), which was mandated to oversee the implementation of the 2008 Russian-Georgian ceasefire agreement, has unarmed monitors on the ground, but was never allowed access to either Abkhazia or South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region.

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