Two Georgians detained near occupied Tskhinvali

Russian occupant forces are continuing to violate international laws by arresting Georgian citizens from Georgian soil near the so-called Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

Sometime in the past 24 hours Russian border guards detained two Georgian men near the Dvani and Chvirnisi villages, which are located near the breakaway zone in Georgia’s Kareli municipality.

The de-facto government accused Mamuka Kopadze and Giorgi Kharazishvili of "illegally crossing the state border”.

As punishment, both men were detained and sent to the Tskhinvali Militsia (Police) remand centre in Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

Kopadze’s father, Giorgi Kopadze said the family had already sent 2,000 Russian roubles (about $31) to Tskhinvali as payment "for the violation” in exchange for his son’s release.

He alleged his son was drunk and did not know he was crossing the so-called state border.