De facto Abkhazia: early release of illegally convicted Georgian man Bebua ‘not on agenda’
Irakli Bebua was sentenced to nine years in prison in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region last year.
Tweet 
Share
The de facto Foreign Ministry of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region says that the early release of Georgian citizen Irakli Bebua, who was illegally sentenced to nine years in prison back in December 2020, is ‘not on the agenda.’
The Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani expressed hope earlier this week that Bebua, like Zaza Gakheladze who left the occupied Tskhinvali prison last month, would be released soon.
The de facto authorities say that Bebua ‘committed a crime and was convicted according to the law.’
Bebua, an ethnic Georgian man living in the Gali district of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, was detained at the end of September 2020 after burning the flag of the de facto Abkhazia region.
Later, the de facto authorities stated that they had also found a hand grenade in Bebua’s house.
Bebua set an Abkhaz flag on fire while the region was celebrating its ‘Victory Day and the Day of Independence’ on September 30.
He stated in a video released later that he burnt the flag as he wanted Georgians and Abkhaz to live together and be friendly as earlier.
Genadi Bestaev, illegally detained by the Russian occupation forces in November 2019 for 'illegally crossing the border and possession of drugs', has been sentenced to three years in prison by the so-called Tskhinvali court, reports the State Security Service of Georgia.
Zaza Gakheladze, an illegally detained Georgian citizen who was ‘pardoned’ by the de facto president of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), says he did not expect to be released today.
Irakli Bebua, an ethnic Georgian man living in the Gali district of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for burning the flag of Abkhazia and the possession of firearms.
Irakli Bebua, a young ethnic Georgian man from the Gali district of Russia-occupied Abkhazia, has been detained after setting an Abkhaz flag on fire, while the region was celebrating the day of victory and independence on September 30.
UN Security Council Member countries have condemned ‘Russia’s illegal military presence’ and annexation of Georgian regions in the run up to the 13th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war. Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and Albania (incoming Security Council Member country) have expressed their unwavering support for ‘Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.’
Social activists and family members of Irakli Bebua, who was detained in 2020 by occupation forces for burning the flag of Abkhazia, gathered in front of the building of the government administration on September 19 and requested to be allowed to meet with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
The Georgian State Security Service said 44 persons had been illegally arrested by Russian occupation forces in the vicinity of central Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, and 13 adjacent to the occupied Abkhazia in the north-west of the country, in its annual report for 2022.