Russia-controlled people kidnap Georgian citizen at occupation line

Russia-controlled so-called border guards have kidnapped Georgian citizen Vasil Salamashvili today at the occupation line between Georgia and its eastern occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.

The State Security Service of Georgia confirmed the man was kidnapped for the so-called illegal crossing of border in the village of Sakorintlo, Kaspi municipality, on the territory administered by the central Georgian government.

The European Union Monitoring Mission has been informed over the illegality.

Russians and the representatives of Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali frequently abduct Georgian citizens and release them after paying fine, which amounts to about 30-33 USD.

Abkhazia and Tskhinvali have been recognized as independent republics by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria in the wake of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.

 The rest of the international community is unanimous that the regions are occupied by Russia.