Georgian citizen illegally detained by occupying forces released

Georgian citizen Givi Beruashvili, who was illegally detained by occupying forces for “illegally crossing” the so-called border on March 17 has been released, the Georgian State Security Service says.

Witnesses say that Beruashvili was detained in the village of Ditsi, near Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.

Beruashvili, 21, was visiting his grandparents there, who live 500 meters from the occupation line.

The occupying forces in the two Russia-controlled Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali have detained 327 Georgian citizens for “illegally crossing the border” between 2017 and 2019, the Georgian State Security Service says.

The agency reports that 242 of the 327 were detained for “illegally crossing” the so-called border between Georgia and its eastern occupied Tskhinvali region.

The remaining 85 individuals have been detained for “illegally crossing” the so-called border between Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia.

Most of the illegally detained people are released after paying fine, which amounts to 30-32 USD.

The de facto authorities of Tskhinvali announced plans last year to increase the fine to 300 USD. However, the decision has not been made so far.