Four Georgian citizens have been kidnapped by armed forces near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) separating de facto Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and the rest of Georgia.
The four men were working on their own beehives in Dzirula village when they were approached and kidnapped by armed people yesterday.
The village is located about eight kilometres from the ABL, on Georgian-controlled territory.
Witness Valeri Chkhitunidze told Georgia’s Public Broadcaster he was among the group when they were approached by several armed men.
He told the media outlet that the only reason why the attackers did not kidnap too was because of his age, as it would have been impossible for him to walk several kilometres to the ABL.
Chkhitunidze noted the armed guards spoke a little Georgian, Russian and Ossetian.
The kidnapped men have not yet made contact with their families. It is believed they have been taken to a detention centre in Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Official agencies in Georgia have informed the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) about this latest case of illegal detention.
This month there have been several cases of detention of Georgian citizens by Russia-controlled border guards near the ABL with Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
On May 9 armed guards detained nine Georgian residents from Korbouli Village and accused of illegally crossing the so-called border.
Earlier, on May 5 border guards detained two Georgian men near Dvani and Chvirnisi villages, which are located near the breakaway zone in Georgia’s Kareli municipality. These two men were also accused of illegally crossing the so-called border.