Georgian FM raises abduction of Georgian doctor with UN Under Secretary-General
Georgian FM has thanked the UN for its efforts for the release of abducted Georgian doctor. Photo: politico.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and UN Under Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo have spoken about the abduction of well-known Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili and his illegal sentencing to prison by the Russian-controlled de facto Tskhinvali in a phone conversation, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported earlier today.
Zalkaliani and DiCarlo have stated that the abduction and the sentencing of the doctor is absolutely unacceptable, that it is a destructive action which further complicates the already severe humanitarian situation on the ground. It was stated that the consolidated response of the international community to such illegal actions is of vital importance,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.
Zalkaliani has thanked the UN for its attention to the issue and its involvement for the release of the doctor.
Gaprindashvili was abducted on November 9 and was illegally sentenced to one year and nine months to prison on December 20 “for deliberately crossing the border,” as he did not admit to “crossing the border,” saying that Tskhinvali is part of Georgia and is now occupied by Russia.
The family of well -known Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was abducted by Russian-controlled occupation forces on November 9 and was illegally sentenced to one year and nine months to prison “for deliberately crossing the border” last week, has addressed the diplomatic corps in Georgia ‘to spare no efforts’ in achieving the release of the doctor.
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Germany to Georgia, Justin McKenzie Smith and Hubert Knirsch have expressed hope that Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, who has been sentenced to one year and nine months to prison in Tskhinvali, will be released soon.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has condemned the decision of Russian controlled de facto Tskhinvali to sentence well-known Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili to one year and nine months in prison and stated that the illegal detention was a “deliberate provocation.”
The United States remains ‘especially concerned’ by the ongoing detention of Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili [by Russian controlled occupation forces], and echoes ‘calls from across the international community’ for his immediate release, the US Mission to the OSCE reports.
De facto President of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region Anatoly Bibilov says that the sentence of well-known Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili to one year and nine months in prison is “a fair punishment.”
A working group has been created by the family of well-known Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili to help organize his release after he was abducted by Russian-controlled occupation forces on November 9, 2019.
Well-known Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was sentenced to one year and nine months in Tskhinvali prison, was released today. The State Security Service of Georgia reported that he is now on Tbilisi-controlled territory now.