US remains ‘especially concerned’ at ongoing detention of Georgian doctor by occupation forces

The United States remains ‘especially concerned’ by the ongoing detention of Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili [by Russian controlled occupation forces], and echoes ‘calls from across the international community’ for his immediate release, the US Mission to the OSCE reports.

• Russian-controlled Tskhinvali sentences Georgian doctor to almost two years in prison

The US says that the restrictions placed on the occupation lines [by Russian controlled de facto Tskhinvali government] continue to worsen the humanitarian conditions in the Georgian region of Tskhinvali.

The United States calls for the immediate end to borderization, arbitrary detentions, and undue restrictions on movement, and urges the relevant authorities to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations to the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”

The US says that the Gali and Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms [local mechanisms to address humanitarian issues mostly] are crucial for maintaining dialogue on a range of issues and to ensuring the availability of communication channels for crisis resolution.

We call on participants to ensure the IPRM’s regular function – without preconditions.”

The United States called again for a ‘full and accurate accounting’ of the deaths of Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria, and Davit Basharuli, and expressed ‘full support’ for continuing investigations with regard to missing persons.

The United States welcomed the exchange of information between the Georgian and Russian delegations on the death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia during the [recent] Geneva talks.