Two kidnapped at so-called administrative border, one minor already released

The Russian Federation is continuing its creeping occupation of Georgian soil and kidnapping locals living near the so-called Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.

Yesterday Russian border guards kidnaped two persons from Dvani village, located near the Russian controlled area. The pair were accused of allegedly crossing the so-called border.

One of those detained was 13-year-old Tato Mamagulashvili. 

The minor was swiftly released through the involvement of Georgia’s Security Services and the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM). 

It was one more illegal detention. We immediately acted together with the EUMM and managed the release of the kid,” said a spokesperson from Georgia’s Security Service.

The youth’s cousin Dimitri Mamagulashvili, who is older than 18 years of age, still remained captive in Tskhinvali. 

According to locals the boys were fishing when the Russian occupying forces descended upon them and kidnapped them from Georgian-controlled territory. 

Local residents in nearby villages suspected D. Mamagulashvili would be held in Tskhinvali prison and occupying forces would demand a ransom in exchange for his release, as was the case with earlier kidnapping incidences. 

Since the Russian-Georgian war in 2008, Russia has continued to violate international law and human rights hundreds of times, including kidnapping Georgian citizens near the disputed territory.