Georgian journalists released
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Three Georgian journalists have been released after being taken captive near the occupation line near South Ossetia.
Broadcasting company TV3 reporter Bela Zakaidze, cameraman Vahko Lekiashvili and technical support staff member Mikheil Mikhoev were detained by Russian border guards near the Adzvi village yesterday.
The trio were detained for slightly more than 24 hours.
The journalists were returned to the Georgian side at the Ergneti post. Ergneti is a small village on the administrative boundary line that separates South Ossetia from Georgia. It is near Tskhinvali, the breakaway region’s capital.
Zakaidze, Lekiashvili and Mikhoev were in the Adzvi village to report on the story of Russia’s creeping occupation as it continued to move the border further into Georgian territory.
After their release, Zakaidze told TV3 via phone that they were not verbally or physically abused but she was forced to say she had been to Tskhinvali before. This was untrue and Zakaidze said she had never been to this region before.
She also complained of the "unhygienic" conditions in the detention center.
Earlier today Russian authorities claimed the three Georgian journalists were detained near the South Ossetian so-called border because they had violated border controls and "created provocations".
On the contrary, the Georgian Foreign Ministry believed the illegal detention of the trio on April 15 by Russian occupation troops was "another provocation” and called for the immediate release of the TV3 crew.
The situation was also discussed during a meeting between Georgian PM’s special envoy for relations with Russia, Zurab Abashidze, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Grigory Karasin, today in Prague.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister believes the Russian authorities’ announcement about the detention of three Georgian journalists near the South Ossetian so-called border defies logic.
Russian authorities are claiming three Georgian journalists were detained near the South Ossetian so-called border because they violated border controls and "created provocations”.
Three Georgian journalists taken captive by Russian border guards near the occupation line near South Ossetia are in good health and have been promised to be released. One of the journalists was allowed to contact her family last night and let them know the trio were safe.
The installation of barbed wire fences by Russian and Ossetian border guards has left a historical Georgian church isolated behind the fences, which mark the so-called boundary between Georgian and Ossetian territory.
Russian-led troops have abducted three local women who live in a village near the occupation line of the so-called South Ossetia.
Russian soldiers have detained a fourth Georgian citizen in the Kareli district, which runs alongside the disputed border near South Ossetia.
Three Georgian women detained by Russian forces for allegedly illegally crossing the so-called border near South Ossetia have been released after paying a fine.
Conflict resolution experts have descended on the Georgian village of Ergneti to discuss issues that are plaguing the troubled region following the detention of Georgian citizens near the occupation line.
The European Union is expressing its concern at the continuing installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial obstacles by the Russian Federation near the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Six Georgian citizens have been detained by Russian forces near the occupation line of so-called South Ossetia.
Seven more Georgian citizens from the Sachkhere province have been detained by Russian border guards at the occupation line for allegedly illegally crossing the border into de-facto South Ossetia.
In light of the unlawful detention of "jonjoli” pickers in the Sachkhere area, near the de-facto South Ossetian border, the European Union’s Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) is calling on all parties to show consideration and understanding before any detention is made.
Seventeen Georgian citizens detained at the boundary line with de-facto South Ossetia have been released following a meeting with conflict resolution experts.
Citizens of Georgia living near the occupation line with Tskinvali (South Ossetia) region will have no chance of celebrating the upcoming Easter on April 12 as tradition calls to honour their loved ones.