Georgian man kidnapped by guards near occupied Tskhinvali

Yet another Georgian citizen has been illegally detained by Russian-controlled guards near the occupation line separating breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) from the rest of Georgia.

The detainee, 45-year-old Aleksandre Geliashvili, was reportedly detained in the village of Berusheti in the Gori Municipality near the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali.

Geliashvili’s family members said that they are concerned as he has health-related problems and needs to take medicine regularly.

They were informed that the man has been taken to Tskhinvali detention centre.

There are witnesses to the incident who say that Geliashvili was on Georgian-controlled territory when he was approached and detained by three armed guards. The witnesses claim that the guards crossed the occupation line several hundred metres into the Tbilisi-controlled side.

• More than 900 Georgian citizens detained along occupation line in 8 years

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.

Official data says 915 people have been illegally detained for allegedly crossing the line since 2010.

Detainees are usually released once their family pays a fine.