Russia Gov’t: Georgian TV crew detained for violating border rules
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Russian authorities are claiming three Georgian journalists were detained near the South Ossetian so-called border because they violated border controls and "created provocations”.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement TV3 reporter Bela Zakaidze, cameraman Vahko Lekiashvili and technical support staff member Mikheil Mikhoev had violated border rules and were taken captive by Russian forces near the Adzvi village on Wednesday.
TV3 officials denied the Russia’s Foreign Minister’s accusations of violating border rules said the journalists even had not came close to the so called border.
The Russian authority confirmed the TV crew were detained by Russian border guards and were then handed over to the authorities of the breakaway region.
The journalists are currently being held in Tskhinvali.
Russia’s Foreign Minister believed the three-person television crew "demonstratively” crossed into "South Ossetia’s territory”, in an attempt to provoke and mar an expected meeting between Russian and Georgian diplomats in Prague today, April 16.
"It is hard to consider it otherwise than a pre-planned action with a purpose to complicate atmosphere of a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister [Grigory] Karasin and Georgian Prime Minister’s special representative [Zurab] Abashidze in Prague,” the Russian Ministry statement read.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was not the first time a provocative action had been organized precisely on the eve of the Prague meeting.
The statement also referred to the recent violation of Georgian airspace by Russian aircraft and called the facts "fictitious”. It went on to say a "struggle continues within the Georgian society between those who try to normalize ties with Moscow and forces, which pursue ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s course of ‘fueling hostilities’”.
The three Georgian journalists were taken captive while reporting on the story of Russia’s creeping occupation as it continued to move the border further into Georgian territory.
The unlawful detention of the Georgian television crew would be be the first issue discussed at a meeting with Russian envoy Grigory Karasin at today’s meeting in Prague, said Abashidze, the Georgian PM’s special envoy for relations with Moscow, to Georgian journalists.
It is believed the trio will be released later today.
Three Georgian journalists taken captive by Russian border guards near the occupation line near South Ossetia are in good health and have been promised to be released. One of the journalists was allowed to contact her family last night and let them know the trio were safe.
Georgia’s airspace was violated this morning when a Russian plane crossed the Georgian border and illegally entered Georgian controlled airspace.
Georgian and Russian officials will finally convene after plans to meet were postponed twice.
The planned meeting between Georgian and Russian officials has been postponed for the second time.
The meeting between Georgia’s Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze and Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin has been postponed by 10 days.
A possible meeting between Georgian and Russian leaders will be discussed when representatives of the two countries meet next month.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister believes the Russian authorities’ announcement about the detention of three Georgian journalists near the South Ossetian so-called border defies logic.
Three Georgian journalists have been released after being taken captive near the occupation line near South Ossetia.
Russian-led troops have abducted three local women who live in a village near the occupation line of the so-called South Ossetia.