Famous Georgian doctor, three others illegally detained by occupation forces
Media outlets report that doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili was detained over the weekend while visiting a patient.Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Famous Georgian doctor and traumatologist Vazha Gaprindashvili and three others have been illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed.
The Georgian Public Broadcaster reports that Gaprindashvili was detained near the village of Orchosani [under the Russian control] for the “illegally crossing the border"on Saturday.
The so-called security committee of Tskhinvali has released a statement regarding the illegal detention of the doctor yesterday, while the man was kidnapped on the weekend.
The de facto Tskhinvali government closed crossing points with the rest of Georgia starting September 4, 2019, causing severe humanitarian situation on the ground, with two individuals already dead due to delayed medical aid.
Between 9 and 11 November the occupation forces have also detained three Georgian citizens for“illegally crossing the border, Ramaz Zadishvili, David Mishelashvili and Zurab Tukhashvili.
Locals say that the families have already paid the fine but none of the three individuals have been released so far.
The hot-line has been activated by the European Union Monitoring mission and negotiations are in progress regarding the release of the illegally detained individuals.
The illegal detention of Georgian citizens by Russian occupation forces near the occupation line is a common issue. Detainees are usually released after their families pay a fine.
The standard fine is 2,000 Russian rubles (about €28 / $31 USD).
Russia recognised the Georgian regions of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia as independent states in the wake of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
Inhabitants of the Akhalgori district in eastern Georgia, which is now occupied by Russia, will have to get special passes in order to be able to visit the rest of Georgia.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvil ihas criticised the de-facto leadership of Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) for their decision to close the so-called border with the rest of Georgia to avoid the spread of H1N1 flu.
Famous Georgian doctor and traumatologist Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces on Saturday, has been charged with “deliberately crossing the border” by de facto Tskhinvali, while three other Georgian citizens illegally detained between November 9 and 11 have been released.
Occupation forces have illegally detained two Georgian citizens at the village of Kodistskaro, Kaspi municipality, near the occupation line with Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed. The agency said that the issue will be raised at today’s 7th extraordinary meeting in Ergneti.
EU Spokesperson Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Maja Kocijancic says that the rising tension along the occupation line with Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region “is completely unacceptable.” She stated that the EU calls on all actors “to show maximum restraint and refrain from any steps or statements that could escalate the situation”.
Famous Georgian doctor and traumatologist Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces on Saturday, has been sent to two-month pretrial detention, Radio Liberty reports, citing Gaprindashvili’s wife Tamila Lapanashvili. A local media and a de facto security agency of Tskhinvali also read that "Tskhinvali court has ruled against Gaprindashvili" and sent him to pretrial detention.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili calls on the international community “to react with all possible means” to the detention of Georgian doctor and traumatologist Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was sentenced to two-month pretrial detention by Russian-controlled occupation forces yesterday.
Russian occupation forces have illegally detained a citizen of the village of Bershueti in the Gori municipality today. The Georgian State Security Service has confirmed detention of a Georgian woman.