Two Georgian citizens, Soso Shukakidze and Giorgi Shamanauri, have been kidnapped by Russia-controlled so-called border guards from the village Okami in Kaspi municipality today.
The State Security Service has stated that the Russian-backed armed forces have detained Georgian citizens for so “illegally crossing the border”.
“The hot line has been enacted and the EUMM is informed about the case,” the State Security Service says.
Kidnapping is a common crime in the Russian occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). De-facto Tskhinvali calls the occupation line between the region and the rest of Georgia "the state border” and treats any cases of line crossing by locals as cases of "illegal border crossing”, even though the line is not well demarcated in some areas. Generally, occupants release the detained Georgian citizens after their relatives pay a ransom.