Officials investigate reports Georgians captured in eastern Ukraine
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UPDATED 17:08pm: The Georgian Consulate in Ukraine is investigating reports that two Georgians were among those captured by pro-Russian separatists and exploited in a parade in Ukraine’s troubled Donesk region on Sunday.
Ukrainian media published a list of names of the soldiers they recognised from the march, which was assessed as "a violation of the Geneva Convention” by international organisation Human Rights Watch.
On the list were two Georgian names - Aleksandre Tsiklauri and Iuri Bukia.
Georgian Consul in Ukraine Konstantine Sabiashvili said they were now trying to check whether Tsiklauri and Bukia were Georgian citizens or not.
Pro-Russian separatists marched Ukrainian prisoners through Donetsk in mockery of the country's Independence Day celebrations on August 24.
Earlier today the Georgian Embassy in Ukraine confirmed several Georgians had volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian soldiers in eastern Ukraine.
EARLIER 14:15pm: Two Georgians are believed to have volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian soldiers in one of the most volatile areas in eastern Ukraine.
The two Georgian citizens are thought to be among the Donbas Battalion members who are currently under siege by anti-Kiev forces in the town of Ilovaysk, 18 kilometers east of Donetsk, according to information spread on social media.
The Georgian Embassy in Ukraine did not have official information about the fact but confirmed several Georgian’s had volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian soldiers in eastern Ukraine.
Ambassador Mikheil Ukleba said the situation was "very hard” in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and called on Georgian citizens who lived or worked there to leave the area.
"There is huge danger […] I understand people had their businesses here or worked here and they don’t want to lose them but there is nothing more important than losing a life,” he said, stressing the Embassy would do its best to help any citizen in need.
Earlier today the Georgian President’s adviser for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Tengiz Pkhaladze said President Giorgi Margvelashvili was being personally informed about the developments in Ukraine.
"The President receives information about the situation in Ukraine every hour,” Pkhaladze said, adding the current situation was not only Ukraine’s problem but a global problem.
Georgia shares the concerns of the international society regarding the current tense situation in Ukraine and is offering its solidarity to the people and government of the troubled nation.
The Prime Minister of Georgia has spoken out about the recent Russian aggression in Ukraine and is calling on the world to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ukrainian citizens injured in the ongoing fight for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will be brought to Georgia for medical treatment.
Georgia will provide vital medicine for Ukrainian citizens living in the country’s conflict regions who are unable to get proper medical help due to the ongoing crisis in the area.
A meeting between Georgian and Ukrainian Presidents will take place next week at the NATO Summit in Wales.
Georgia is inviting Ukrainian children to spend time in Georgia and experience the sights, sounds and culture Georgia has to offer.
The body of a Georgian man who died in a bomb explosion in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine is returning to his homeland today.
Georgian citizen Shalva Bukhaidze died in an armed confrontation in Donbass region, Ukraine last week.
One Georgian fighter has been killed and three others have been wounded following shelling between the Ukrainian Army and pro-Russian separatists near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, say Georgian soldiers who voluntarily fight alongside the Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainians have gathered in Kiev’s central Independence Square to mourn the fallen Georgian fighter who died while defending Ukrainian land from Russian-backed rebels near Donetsk last week.
The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has honoured and praised a group of Georgian soldiers who fought alongside Ukraine as it battled Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Another Georgian fighter has been killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian soldiers to defend Ukraine's land.
The body of a Georgian fighter who was killed in Ukraine by Russian-backed separatists is expected to be returned to Georgia in the next few days.