Occupation forces abduct 96-year-old Georgian man
The elderly man has been illegally detained several times over the past several years by Russian-controlled de facto authorities of Tskhinvali region. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Russian-controlled occupation forces have abducted 96-year-old Gora Garibashvili while he was trying to reach a cemetery near the village of Tsunevi, close to the occupation line with breakaway Tskhinvali region, the Georgian Public Broadcaster reports.
The man has been illegally detained for “crossing the border” by de facto Tskhinvali authorities several times over the past several years, with the previous illegal detention taking place last year.
The family reported earlier that the cemetery where Garibashvili's ancestors are buried is now on territory controlled by the occupation forces, IPN reports.
Garibashvili is a local of the Kvemo Tchala village of Kaspi municipality.
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.
The occupying forces in the two Russia-controlled Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) have detained 327 Georgian citizens for “illegally crossing the border” between 2017 and 2019, the Georgian State Security Service says.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with de facto Foreign Minister Daur Kove of Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia to discuss security issues in the South Caucasus, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.
The Georgian State Security Service writes in its 2018 report that Russian forces tried to use the two occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to conduct clandestine, illegal operations.
The occupying forces have illegally detained Georgian citizen Guladi Khubua at the occupation line with the breakaway Abkhazia region for “illegally crossing the border” late yesterday, his family says.
Russian-controlled occupation forces have abducted three Georgian citizens in the Kaspi municipality of Georgia and transported them to Tskhinvali prison for “illegally crossing the border.” Locals say that the occupation forces initially detained four individuals. However, they released 15-year-old Avtandil Gamkhitashvili shortly after detaining him.
96-year-old Gora Garibashvili, who was abducted by occupation forces several times over the past several years, is now on Tbilisi-controlled territory, the Georgian State Security Service has told the Georgian Public Broadcaster earlier today.
Georgian Foreign Ministry has released its 2019 Compilation Report on human rights violations in the Russia-occupied territories of Georgia, stating that last year ‘was marked by grave and blatant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including but not limited to violations of the right to life’ in the Russian-controlled Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.