Foreign diplomats, OSCE Sec-Gen visit occupation line in Georgia, meet family of illegally detained Gakheladze
Foreign diplomats and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid visited the village of Tsitsagiantkari, in central Georgia, earlier today. Photo: Helga Maria Schmid Twitter page.
Tweet 
Share
US and Italian ambassadors and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid have visited the village of Tsitsagiaantkari earlier today near the Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region of Georgia, where they attended the opening ceremony of a drinking water reservoir for locals and met the family of Zaza Gakhekadze, a Georgian citizen who has been illegally sentenced to 12 years in prison by de facto Tskhinvali.
The Tsitsagiaantkari village has been deprived of drinking water since the Russia-Georgia 2008 war because earlier they received fresh water from villages which are currently under Russian control.
Visited Tsitsagiaantkari where @OSCE supported a project enabling access to clean drinking water for 144 households. OSCE worked together with #Gori municipality @USAIDGeorgia @ItalyinGeorgia @ItalyatOSCE to improve situation of conflict-affected. pic.twitter.com/idwbB2SPJU
— Helga Maria Schmid (@HelgaSchmid_SG) June 14, 2021
With the involvement of the OSCE, the US and Italian embassies, the problem has been resolved for locals.
While in the village Helga Maria Schmid and foreign ambassadors met with the Gakheladze family who have been demanding the release of the illegally detained man since the summer of 2020.
Gakheladze, 33, who was shot and illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces in the summer of 2020, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison by the de facto Supreme Court of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region on February 5,2021.
Gakheladze has been illegally detained since the summer of 2020.
The court found him guilty of ‘illegally crossing the border and attempted murder’ of a so-called border-guard.
The international community has condemned the incident and has called upon Russia many times to allow the release of the man.
US Ambassador Kelly Degnan has told journalists that she was happy to meet with the Gakheladze family, saying that the case is an ‘obvious example of the role Russia is playing in Georgia.’
She reiterated the US’ ‘strong support’ for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Gakheladze’s mother Nana Bunturi has stated that his son’s birthday is on June 23 and if Gakheladze is not released by his birthday ‘we will either cross into the occupation line or will take other actions. We will not stay as we are now.’