Family say illegally detained doctor by occupation forces feels satisfactory, has not been maltreated

The family of a famous Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was abducted by occupation forces on November 9, has told the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) that the health condition of the doctor is satisfactory and he has faced no mistreatment in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.

The doctor’s daughter Tata Gaprindashvili shared the information with the channel after his father was visited by the members of the Red Cross in Tskhinvali prison earlier today.

The Red Cross had the right to deliver the information to the family only after they were allowed to meet the illegally detained doctor.

Tata Gaprindashvili told the GPB that the Red Cross handed a letter written by the family to Gaprindashvili and the doctor also sent a letter to his family from prison.

Doctors around the country have rallied earlier today to demand the immediate release of Gaprindashvili.

The doctor has been charged in occupied Tskhinvali. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge. 

Gaprindashvili has been sentenced to two-month pretrial detention in the Russian-controlled Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali region for “deliberately crossing the border.”

The Georgian State Security service says that the doctor was illegally detained near the Russian-controlled village of Orchosani.

The media reports that Gaprindashvili was visiting a patient when he was abducted and he refused to admit the “crossing of the border” [as the occupation forces demanded from him to say].

Georgian State Minister of Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said yesterday that the doctor will be released in a few days.

According to our information, Vazha Gaprindashvili will be released in a few days. Now all efforts are aimed at ensuring that he returns to his family as soon as possible – to his wife, Mrs. Tamila, and his daughters, whom I visited yesterday," Tsikhelashvili said.

A number of officials and organisations, including President Salome Zurabishvili and the United States Embassy to Georgia, have expressed their support to Gaprindashvili.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said on November 16 that they are doing their best to ensure the safe return of the doctor.