Civil activist illegally detained in Russian occupied region

A female civil activist Tamar Mearakishvili has been illegally detained in Akhalgori near the Russian occupied region of Georgia – Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) earlier today.

Mearakishvili spoke to the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s reporter via the phone conversation prior to detention. She said she was stopped by the investigator of de-facto South Ossetia Alan Baiazrov who, without any explanation or notice took the woman to the regional prosecutor’s office.

Georgia’s Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili addressed de-facto South Ossetian officials to immediately release Mearakishvili from illegal detention.

Mearakishvili has been active on social networks and is known for her criticism towards de-facto authorities.

According to Nanuashvili, the detainee has been under pressure during the last several years and was even kidnapped to Tskhinvali earlier this July.