Tbilisi concerned by three month pre-trial detention verdict for Georgian man in occupied Tskhinvali
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has called Mghebrishvili’s sentencing ‘a provocative and destructive’ decision, which worsens ‘already grave’ security and humanitarian situation on the ground. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Georgian officials have expressed their concern that Georgian citizen Khvicha Mghebrishvili has been recently sentenced to three months of pretrial detention by a so-called court in the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region.
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia told journalists today that the government is working with its international partners to solve the issue.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has called Mghebrishvili’s sentencing ‘a provocative and destructive’ decision, which worsens ‘already grave’ security and humanitarian situation on the ground.
It is embarrassing that the Russian occupying forces continue illegal detention and kidnapping of Georgian citizens”, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mari Narchemashvili said.
She noted that Georgian citizens Khvicha Mghebrishvili, Genadi Bestaevi and Zaza Gakheladze remain in illegal detention for a couple of months now.
Narchemashvili also added that the reason behind Mgherishvili's detention has been ‘cynical’.
It is the part of disinformation and propaganda campaign that the occupying forces are carrying out against the [Tbilisi-based] Lugar lab”, Narchemashvili stated.
The so-called security committee of the occupied Tskhinvali region reported in mid-July that Mghebrishvili was going to catch bats in Russia-controlled territory on July 3 when he was detained.
Tskhinvali alleged that Mghebrishvili was ‘interested in bats that live in the villages of Artsevi and Ghromi in Gori municipality’.
They also accused the Lugar laboratory (formally the Richard Lugar Center for Public Health Research) of ‘showing interest’ in bats of the region for research purposes.
Georgia's new Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani and the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission Marek Szczygiel spoke of human rights violations in the two Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) yesterday.
Khvicha Mghebrishvili, 45, a local of central Georgia's Mejvriskhevi village, who was arrested by occupation forces near the administrative line bordering occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) on July 3 has been sentenced to three months of pre-trial detention by a so-called court of the occupied Tskhinvali region.
The citizen arrested by occupation forces in central Georgia on July 3 has received preliminary detention, extending the unlawful restriction of his freedom, the State Security Service of Georgia has confirmed.
The so-called security committee of Russian-occupied Tskhinvali reports a Georgian citizen who ‘illegally crossed the so-called border’ on July 3 was going to catch bats in Russian-controlled territory.
Georgia’s Russia-occupied municipality of Akhalgori faces a humanitarian crisis, as the area has been completely closed due to the coronavirus pandemic nearly six months and locals are unable to receive their pensions, IPN reports.
Family members of Khvicha Mghebrishvili, who was abducted by occupation forces near the administrative line bordering the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on July 3, have urged the government of Georgia to take more effective steps to secure the release of their family member.
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.