Georgian PM requests support from EU, US ambassadors in securing release of Georgian citizen in occupied Tskhinvali

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has met with the Head of the EU Delegation Carl Hartzell and US Ambassador Kelly Degnan requesting support to  secure the release of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze who has been recently sentenced in occupied Tskhinvali.

At the meeting earlier today the Georgian and foreign dignitaries spoke of the importance of 'making use of diplomatic and legal mechanisms on an international level' to put an end 'to illegal detentions and blatant violations of fundamental rights along the occupation lines'.

Discussed the Russian occupation regime's provocative actions & the illegal detention of Zaza Gakheladze w/ US Ambassador Kelly Degnan & @CarlHartzellEU. Our strategic partners reiterated their commitment to raise the issue at the highest levels of int'l platforms. pic.twitter.com/2ghEXhtynu

— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) February 6, 2021

Ambassador Degnan said the US is very concerned and condemns the recent action taken yesterday against an illegally detained Georgian citizen on charges that are 'completely fabricated'. 

We hope that there will be serious consideration given to resolving this quickly and releasing this Georgian citizen as soon as possible", Degnan said.

Ambassador Hartzell noted as well that this is a case that the EU has been following for months now. 

This verdict, the follow-up to the illegal detention, is clearly a bad signal, something we take very seriously. We are urging for the immediate release from illegal detention and we will be continuously following up on this issue", Hartzell stated.

• EU, US Embassy condemn sentencing of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze in occupied Tskhinvali

The European Union and the US Embassy have expressed their concern for the sentencing of the Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze to 12 years in prison yesterday.

Gakheladze, who was shot and illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces in the summer of 2020, was found guilty of ‘illegally crossing the border and attempted murder’.