Trial of illegally detained Georgian citizen Gakheladze held today in Russia-occupied Tskhinvali
Zaza Gakheladze was shot and then illegally detained by Russia-controlled occupation forces near the administrative line dividing the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from Tbilisi-controlled territory in July 2020. Photo: Zaza Gakheladze's Facebook page.
Tweet 
Share
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.
The trial will continue on January 25.
Zaza Gakheladze was shot and then illegally detained by Russia-controlled occupation forces near the administrative line dividing the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from Tbilisi-controlled territory in July 2020.
The occupation authorities alleged Gakheladze crossed the “state border” and opened fire on “border protection staff” after the appearance of the latter on the scene.
The de-facto Security Committee of South Ossetia said Gakheladze had been injured in return fire from the “border” patrols.
- Georgian man who was shot and illegally detained by occupying forces remains in illegal detention
- US, UNDP alarmed by shooting, illegal detention of Georgian man by Russian-led occupation forces
If found guilty of these charges, Gakheladze may be sentenced from 11 to 20 years in prison.
Today after the trial the State Security Service of Georgia said that the central government of Georgia continues to work in order to achieve the unconditional release of Zaza Gakheladze.
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.
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.
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.
A Georgian citizen was shot and arrested near the administrative line dividing the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the Georgian-controlled territory on Saturday, with the de-facto authorities taking the man to detention in the occupied Akhalgori town.
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.
Russian occupation of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions was the main threat and challenge for Georgia in 2020, the 2020 report of the Georgian State Security Service reads.
Father and son Papuna and Badri Dzandzava were wounded in the village of Akhalabastumani, Zugdidi, near the occupation line and it is reported that the shot was fired by the officers of the police department of the 'Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia'.
llegally detained Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze has been ‘pardoned’ today by the de facto president of the Russian occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) Anatoly Bibilov. Zaza Gakheladze had been illegally detained by Russian occupying forces for more than a year. The Georgian government has been demanding the release of Zaza Gakheladze for a year on the international level, within the framework of various negotiating platforms.