British, German ambassadors express hope doctor Gaprindashvili will be released from Tskhinvali custody soon
President Zurabishvili met with diplomatic corps "to once again urge them to strengthen their efforts to return the doctor home for the New Year". Photo: Freedom for Doctor Vaja/Facebook page
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Ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Germany to Georgia, Justin McKenzie Smith and Hubert Knirsch have expressed hope that Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, who has been sentenced to one year and nine months to prison in Tskhinvali, will be released soon.
My thoughts are with Dr #Gaprindashvili & his family at this painful time.
— Justin McKenzieSmith (@JustinMcKenzieS) December 21, 2019
Locking up doctors when patients need them is beyond comprehension.
He should be released immediately by those in control in #Tskhinvali & their Russian backers. https://t.co/eSNoxhvcO3
At a meeting with President Salome Zurabishvili yesterday, the British ambassador stated as well that the news from Tskhinvali about doctor Gaprindashvili 'is very concerning".
At a time when humanitarian needs in Tskhinvali region are so serious, it really is hard to comprehend what anyone gains from detaining medical professionals at this moment", Justin McKenzie Smith said.
I sincerely hope that doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili will be released and returned to his family as soon as possible", he added.
German Ambassador Hubert Knirsch also hoped that "humanitarian solution can be found in the case of doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili".
We’ve been concerned with the fact that he’s been illegally held in Tskhinvali and for weeks already. We are really hoping with his family for humanitarian solution in nearest time", he stated.
Commentaries by Ambassadors @JustinMcKenzieS of Great Britain and Hubert Knirsch of Germany after the meeting of the diplomatic corps with President @Zourabichvili_S on Dr. Vazha #Gaprindashvili’s illegal sentencing. pic.twitter.com/7bhbcbtm1z
— Orbeliani Presidential Palace (@OrbelianiPalace) December 20, 2019
President Zurabishvili met with diplomatic corps "to once again urge them to strengthen their efforts to return the doctor home for the New Year".
The illegal sentencing of Dr. Gaprindashvili goes against the deescalation of the situation. The region’s stability is important for all. I met with the diplomatic corps to once again urge them to strengthen their efforts to return the doctor home for the New Year. pic.twitter.com/p8CuMxuwmS
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) December 20, 2019
The European Union and United States, as well as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have also condemned sentencing the Georgian doctor and called on Tskhinvali to immediately release him.