Russian occupation forces illegally detained 3 Georgian citizens in Zugdidi

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. 

The co-chairs of the Geneva discussions were also involved in the process.

The representative of the occupied Abkhazia confirmed the illegal detention of three people living in the occupied Abkhazia through the hotline, in addition, [they] noted that these individuals are no longer in illegal detention", reads the statement of the State Security Service of Georgia.

The statement also reads that "this is a deliberate provocation by the occupation regime, which is significantly damaging the security environment on the ground and threatening the stability of both the local population and the region".