Woman detained by Russian guards near occupied Tskhinvali

A Georgian citizen has been detained near the occupation line separating the Russian occupied region of Georgia - Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) from the rest of Georgia.

The house and plot of land of detained Lali Khachirashvili, 55, is located close to the village of Khurvaleti along the occupation line. However, neither she, nor her family members have ever faced such problems before.

Khachirashvili’s family does not have the exact information where she is now, but they suppose the detainee might be at a police station near Khurvaleti.

Russian-backed breakaway Tskhinvali calls the occupation line between Tskhinvali region and the rest of Georgia "the state border” and treats any cases of line crossing by locals as cases of "illegal border crossing.”

In some areas, the line is not well differentiated, and occupant forces often advance the so-called border. Consequently, the illegal detention of Georgian citizens is a common issue along the occupation line.

Detainees are usually released once their family pays a fine.