Two Georgian shepherds illegally detained by Russian occupation forces released
The shepherds have been handed over to Georgian law enforcers soon after their illegal detention earlier today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Two Georgian shepherds, who were illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the occupation line adjacent to the village of Akhalubani in Mtskheta-Mtianeti region earlier today, have been released.
Another shepherd said the Russian servicemen from the other side of the occupation line told them to take their cows out from the occupied area.
I stayed with [other] cows, while my neighbour and a cousin went to bring the cows. I waited [for them] for several hours before I realised that they had been detained”, the witness told the First Channel.
The State Security Service has reported that this time the detainees were not taken to Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). The shepherds were handed over to the Georgian law enforcers soon after the detention.
Illegal detention of Georgian citizens by the Russian-controlled occupation forces for so-called ‘illegally crossing the border’ is a common issue since Russia-Georgia 2008.
The foreign ministers of Austria, Romania and Lithuania, Alexander Schallenberg, Bogdan Aurescu and Gabrielius Landsbergis, are paying a visit to Georgia today. The three foreign ministers are visiting Georgia as part of their regional tour to the South Caucasus, which includes visits to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia in coordination with High Representative Josep Borrell and the European External Action Service.
The family of 34-year old Zaza Gakheladze, who was illegally sentenced to12 years and six months in prison in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region, has given the the Georgian government one month to secure the release of the man.
Georgian citizen Lasha Khetereli, who was illegally detained by the occupation forces close to the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) a year ago, has been released.
The European Union says it will continue to raise Russia’s consistent breaches of international law in Ukraine, Georgia, and elsewhere prominently, including through initiatives with like-minded partners.
Georgian citizen Lasha Khetereli, who was illegally detained by de facto authorities of Georgia's Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region for “illegally crossing” the so-called “border” last year, was released on Tuesday, Georgia’s State Security Service said.