US Department of State ‘strongly condemns’ shooting, detention of Georgian citizen by Russian-led occupation forces
The US Department of State has responded to the shooting and illegal detention of a Georgian citizen by the Russian-led occupation forces. Photo: Getty Images.
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The US Department of States has strongly condemned the shooting and illegal detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze, 33, by the Russian-controlled occupation forces on July 11.
We strongly condemn the shooting and detention of a Georgian citizen by Russian-led forces, and we call for his immediate release. Once again, we demand that Russia fulfill its commitments under the 2008 ceasefire agreement. https://t.co/wZVmcqrYbK
— Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) July 13, 2020
The Georgian State Security Service says that Gakheladze, a resident of the village of Kvemo Chala in Kaspi Municipality (central Georgia) was shot (in the leg) and illegally detained near the Skhvilo fortress of Kaspi Municipality.
The fact represents a dangerous precedent. It has been once again confirmed that a dangerous practice of illegal detentions creates ground for grave incidents and escalation of the situation,” said the State Security Service.
The man still remains in illegal detention.
Tbilisi has demanded the resumption of Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meetings amid the shooting and illegal detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by the de facto authorities of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region on July 11.
The US and UNDP representation to Georgia say that they are ‘concerned and alarmed’ by the shooting and illegal detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze, 33, by the Russian-controlled occupation forces on July 11.
A European Union Monitoring Mission release on Sunday confirmed "extensive use" of the mission's hotline regarding the detention and alleged shooting of a Georgian citizen by de-facto authorities of the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on Saturday.
The Georgian man wounded and arrested by occupation forces near the Kvemo Tchala village in central Georgia on Saturday has been reportedly moved from the town of Akhalgori to the occupied Tskhinvali.
All tools of the Georgian government as well as its international partners are involved in efforts to return the citizen shot and arrested by occupation forces last week, prime minister Giorgi Gakharia told local media on Saturday.
A Georgian citizen arrested earlier this month has been moved from quarantine to detention by de-facto authorities in the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region in central Georgia.
A Georgian man detained by occupation forces near the Russia-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) in July has sent a letter to his family via the International Committee of the Red Cross earlier today.
Zaza Gakheladze, 33, who was shot and then illegally detained by the Russian-controlled occupation forces on July 11, 2020, has received an additional two more months in illegal pretrial detention in Tskhinvali region.
After six months of pre-trial detention, the so-called trial of illegally detained Zaza Gakheladze was held today in Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region. RFE/RL reports that several witnesses and Gakheladze were questioned at the hearing.
Russian occupation forces have illegally detained three citizens of Georgia near the village of Khurcha in Zugdidi Municipality, on territory controlled by the central government of Georgia, on January 18 at about 20:30, announces the State Security Service of Georgia. The State Security Service of Georgia has activated the hotline and demanded the immediate release of the illegally detained individuals.
Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze, who was shot and illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces in the summer of 2020, has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison by the de facto Supreme Court of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has called on the international community to ‘take genuine steps’ to secure the release of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze, who was shot and illegally detained by the Russian controlled occupation forces last year and sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison earlier today.
The father, wife and daughters of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze - illegally detained and sentenced by the Russia-backed occupying forces - have visited him in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) jail with the support of International Committee of the Red Cross.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili who met with the family of Zaza Gakheladze, a Georgian citizen illegally detained and sentenced by the Russia-backed occupying forces in Tskhinvali, said the government spares no efforts to release him as soon as possible.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Co-chair of Geneva International Discussions (GID) and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, Toivo Klaar, in Tbilisi earlier today to discuss occupation and regional security issues.