Democracy Research Institute reports ‘groundless detention’ of Russia-occupied Akhalgori resident
“The de facto South Ossetian government is trying to intimidate the local population through arrests and illegal actions,” the statement of the DRI reads. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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A resident of the mountainous village of Midelaani in Russian-occupied Akhalgori municipality has been detained for 48 hours and his house was searched by the State Security Committee (KGB) of Russian occupied South Ossetia (Tskhinvali Region) on October 8, the Democracy Research Institute (DRI) reports.
DRI states that the detention and search were carried out ‘without any basis’ and Russian-occupied South Ossetian KGB claimed that the purpose of the operation was the ‘seizure of weapons and drugs.’
The detainee lives alone in the village of Midelaani and is engaged in agricultural activities and cattle breeding, while his family is currently on Tbilisi-controlled territory.
“About 20 people live in the village of Midelaani. There is a Russian military base near the village,” the DRI reports, saying that the search and temporary detention of the man ‘indicate an intensification of the Russian repressive policy,’ noting that the ultimate goal of this is ‘to empty the villages of Akhalgori Municipality through intimidation.’
The de facto South Ossetian government is trying to intimidate the local population through arrests and illegal actions,” the statement of the DRI reads.
The Democracy Research Institute calls on the Georgian government to pay due attention to the situation in Georgian occupied territories and ‘to intensify efforts to stop the policy of violating the rights and intimidation of the local population remaining in Akhalgori.’
Georgia lost control over Akhalgori after the Russia-Georgia war in 2008.
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The Democracy Research Institute says a teacher in a Georgian school in Akhalgori was arrested a few days ago on charges of ‘collaborating with the Georgian security forces’ and of providing information to the Georgian side about the Russian military forces.
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