8 Georgian citizens detained in Gori Municipality near occupied Tskhinvali released
Russian occupation forces detained eight Georgian citizens in Gori Municipality, close to the occupied Tskhinvali region for “illegally crossing the border” on August 17 and 18. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Eight Georgian citizens who were detained near the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region for “illegally crossing the border” on August 17 and 18 have been released.
The Georgian Interior Ministry official Vazha Siradze said all of them feel safe and will soon return to their families.
Siradze said the Interior Ministry, the National Security Council and the State Security Service of Georgia have made “active steps” and used “all effective measures” to ensure the peaceful return of detainees to their families.
He said the European Union Monitoring Mission-managed hotline was also used to release the Georgian citizens.
The de facto security council of Tskhinvali region said the eight Georgian citizens, who are the locals of the Gori Municipality, were released from the Tskhinvali jail and handed over to the Georgian authorities after paying a fine on August 20.
Russian occupation forces have reappeared in the vicinity of the recently erected ‘border’ at Gori Municipality, in the village of Gugutiantkari. They resumed working after they took photos of the EUMM observers and Georgian officials that are on the other side of the occupation line.
The Russian occupation forces have returned to the village of Gugutiantkari in Gori Municipality and continue to erect a so-called ‘border’ started on August 7. Gori Municipality Mayor Konstantine Tavzarashvili visited the area and stated all state agencies are working to stop the illegal ‘borderisation’ process.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) told Agenda.ge that the de facto authorities of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region have confirmed the detention of eight people on the evening of August 17 and morning of August 18 near the village of Akhalubani, in Gori Municipality via the mission’s hotline.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry is concerned by reports that the locals of the village of Akhalubani, in Gori Municipality, have been kidnapped near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) yesterday. It, therefore, calls on the international community to take “effective measures to stop illegal activities of the occupation forces”.
“The erection of fences by de-facto authorities of South Ossetia backed by Russian border guards in the vicinity of Gugutiantkari village hinders freedom of movement and will deprive people from the local area from accessing orchards and water resources”, the European Union Delegation to Georgia stated.
Yet another Georgian citizen has been detained for illegally crossing the so-called border near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The de facto security council of Tskhinvali region said Tsotne Kublashvili, who is a local of Gori Municipality, was detained on August 20.
The Russian occupation forces detained 24-year-old Giorgi Zangurashvili for ‘border’ violation charges yesterday. The so-called security committee of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region reports Zangurashvili was arrested in the vicinity of the village of Artsevi where Russian military base is located.
24-year-old Giorgi Zangurashvili, detained yesterday for “illegally crossing” the so-called “border” by Russian occupation forces, has been released, the State Security Service of Georgia confirms. “The hotline was immediately activated after Zangurashvili was illegally detained, and the EUMM was also notified”, the Security Service reported.