Georgian woman abducted by occupants released

A de facto Tskhinvali court sentenced Maia Otinashvili her to one year parole and handed her over to representatives of central Georgian government. Photo: 1TV.

Agenda.ge, 09 Oct 2018 - 13:42, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian citizen Maia Otinashvili, who was abducted by Russia-controlled border guards on 29 September, has been released today.

De facto Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) leadership claimed that Otinashvili, a mother of three minors, was detained for “illegally crossing the border” and aiding others to do the same.

She was sentenced to 10 days pre-trial detention last week.

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze called the abduction “a very grave case” and tasked Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani to meet the representatives of the diplomatic corps and foreign organisations accredited in Georgia.

He claimed that all measures have been taken to achieve the release of the woman who was kidnapped from her own garden.

Georgian Minister of Reconciliation and Civil Equality  Ketevan Tsikhelashvili accompanied Otinashvili to her home in the village of Khurvaleti, near the occupation line with breakaway Tskhinvali.

Also today, the de facto Tskhinvali leadership released Akaki Dotiashvili, who was illegally detained by Russia-controlled forces for “illegally crossing the border” on 6 October.