Illegally detained doctor charged in occupied Tskhinvali, 3 others released
Famous Georgian doctor and traumatologist Vazha Gaprindashvili has been in illegal detention starting Saturday. Photo:Firefly World.
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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.
The Georgian State Security Service has reported that Gaprindashvili was detained illegally near the village of Orchosani [currently under Russian control].
The Georgian media outlets report that Gaprindashvili was visiting a patient when he was abducted.
The hot-line has been activated by the European Union Monitoring mission and negotiations are in progress regarding the release of the doctor.
We are doing our utmost for the release of Vazha Gaprindashvili,” the Georgian State Security Service says.
Three other illegally detained individuals, Ramaz Zadishvili, David Mishelashvili and Zurab Tukhashvili. have been released earlier today after paying fine “for illegally crossing the border.”
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.
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.
De facto leaderships of two Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) have decided to close the so-called border with the rest of Georgia to “avoid the spread of H1NI,” the flu which has claimed 15 lives in Georgia.
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.
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.
The United States Embassy to Georgia calls for “the immediate release” of Vazha Gaprindashvili, a well-known Georgian doctor and traumatologist, who was sentenced to two-month pretrial detention by de facto Tskhinvali authorities yesterday.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced yesterday they are doing their best to ensure the safe return of Vazha Gaprindashvili, a doctor who was recently sentenced to two-month pretrial detention by de facto Tskhinvali authorities. The ministry said that the detention of a well-known Georgian doctor and traumatologist points at “alarming human rights situation” in the Russian-occupied Georgian regions.
Georgia’s permanent representative to the United Nations Kakha Imnadze has informed the United Nations Security Council about the human rights violations in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia, stressing that the Georgian side demands the release of illegally detained doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili “at once”.
Democracy Research Institute (DRI) NGO has reported that 51-year-old Georgian citizen Genadi Bestayev has been illegally sentenced to two years in prison in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region for ‘illegally crossing the border and possession of drugs.’