Georgia’s permanent representative to the United Nations Kakha Imnadze has informed the United Nations Security Council about the human rights violations in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia, stressing that the Georgian side demands the release of illegally detained doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili “at once”.
Famous Georgian doctor and traumatologist Vazha Gaprindashvili was illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces on November 9 near the village of Orchosani (under Russian control) and was charged with “deliberately crossing the border” with Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.
At #UNSC open debate on reconciliation abt #Georgia's peace plan "Step to a Better Future". Informing Council abt egregious #HumanRights violations on Russian occupied Georgian regns #Abkhazia/#Tskhinvali, illegal detention of Dr. Vazha #Gaprindashvili, demanding release at once! pic.twitter.com/szNgj5zZGx
— Kaha Imnadze (@kahaimnadze) November 19, 2019
The Georgian media reports that the doctor was visiting a patient when he was abducted.
The doctor’s daughter Tata Gaprindashvili shared the information with the Georgian Public Broadcaster after his father was visited by the members of the Red Cross in Tskhinvali prison on November 18.
Gaprindashvili’s family says that the health condition of the doctor is satisfactory and he refused to admit to “crossing of the border” as the occupation forces demanded him to say.
Georgian State Minister of Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has stated that the doctor will be released in a few days.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry said on November 16 that they are doing their best to ensure the safe return of the doctor.
The hot-line has been activated by the European Union Monitoring mission and negotiations are in progress regarding the release of the doctor.
The de facto Tkhinvali government closed crossing points with the rest of Georgia starting September 4, 2019. It caused severe humanitarian situation on the ground, with two individuals already dead due to delayed medical aid.