Russian guards kidnap Georgian near occupation line

Yet another Georgian citizen has been illegally detained by Russian guards for allegedly crossing the occupation line.

The detainee, 42-year-old Kakhaber Kisishvili was reportedly detained in the village of Otrevi in the Gori Municipality near the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

Kisishvili is a resident of the nearby village of Plavismani but he was visiting a friend in Otrevi when he disappeared two days ago.

Kisishvili’s family was informed the detainee is currently at the Tskhinvali detention centre. Occupation troops have demanded his family pay a fine in return for the man’s release.

Russian-backed breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) calls the occupation line between Tskhinvali region and the rest of Georgia "the state border” and treats cases of random 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.

The detainees are usually released only after a fine is paid for their release.