Illegal ABL detentions continue:
Russian guards kidnap Georgian man near de facto Tskhinvali

A Georgian man has been illegally detained by Russian-controlled border guards stationed at the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) separating de facto Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of Georgia.

Locals said the man was kidnapped from Georgian-controlled territory yesterday.

The kidnapped man has been identified as Valiko Khizanishvili. He was detained by armed border guards while he was shepherding his cattle in Koshka village in Gori Municipality.

Local authorities confirmed Khizanishvili had been taken to a detention centre in Tskhinvali and charged with illegally crossing the so-called border.

Like previous cases, it is expected the man will be released once his family pays a fine.