Three Georgians kidnapped near occupied Tskhinvali remain in custody

Three Georgian citizens kidnapped by Russian border guards from the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) that separates Georgia from de facto Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region this week remain unlawfully in custody in a detention centre on the breakaway territory.

The trio were charged with illegally crossing the so-called border between Georgia and occupied Tskhinvali.  

All three of the detained men were from the Kveshi village in the eastern Gori region. 

According to locals Giorgi Tsatsiashvili, 36, was kidnapped on Monday when he walked to the local church to celebrate Saint George’s Day, while Levan Betlemishvili and Jemal Vashagashvili, both 25, disappeared yesterday. 

The families of the kidnaped men had been contacted from Tskhinvali regarding the detention of their loved ones.

Kveshi village residents claimed the church where Tsatsiashvili was kidnapped was located on the Georgian side of the ABL. 

On a brighter note four Georgians citizens kidnapped on November 23 from three other villages located near the ABL have been released. 

Local officials said the four were released after their families paid a fine. The officials said Russian border guards had recently strengthened control at the ABLs and were taking more drastic action to detain Georgian’s for illegally crossing the so-called border.