One Georgian citizen illegally detained, another sent to pretrial detention by occupation forces
The illegal detention of Georgian citizens by Russian occupation forces near the occupation line is a common issue. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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One Georgian citizen has been detained, while another has been sent to illegal pretrial detention by the Russian-controlled de facto government of Tskhinvali, the Georgian State Security Service reports.
Ramaz Begeluri, 36, was illegally detained by occupation forces last month for ‘illegally crossing the border’ and was sentenced to two-month pretrial detention in Tskhinvali yesterday.
Begeluri has already been detained twice by occupation forces and was released after paying a fine, his family said.
Another Georgian citizen was detained near the Roki tunnel yesterday, on Tbilisi-controlled territory, said the agency.
The Georgian State Security Service says that Russia is responsible for all human rights violations in Georgia’s two occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
The co-chairs of Geneva International Discussions (on Georgia’s conflict issues) have already been informed of the illegalities. Illegal detentions by the occupation forces further complicates the situation on the ground. The illegal detentions aim to threaten the local population and spark tension,” said the State Security Service.
The international community has condemned Russia’s redoubled efforts of ‘borderisation’ and illegal detention in Georgia amid pandemic. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze, who was shot and illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces in the summer of 2020, was also sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison by the de facto Supreme Court of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region on February 5.
The illegal detention of Georgian citizens by Russian occupation forces near the occupation line is a common issue. Detainees are mostly released after their families pay a fine.
However, there have been several cases of Georgian citizens dying while in detention.
The standard fine is 2,000 Russian rubles ($27 USD).
Russia recognised the Georgian regions of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia as independent states in the wake of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
The United Kingdom and Norway have joined the calls of foreign states for the ‘immediate release’ of illegally convicted Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by Russian-controlled occupation forces.
The international community condemns the sentencing of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze in the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), calling for his immediate release. Meanwhile a protest rally was held today held along the occupation line with the participants calling on the Georgian government to make more efficient steps aimed to ensure immediate release of the illegal detainee.
The de facto parliament of Georgia’s eastern occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region is about to increase fines for ‘illegally crossing the border’ with Georgia.
Two people kidnapped near the occupation line between Georgia and its Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) have been released today. As one of the detainees Eldar Gundishvili said, he was detained while he was grazing his cattle in his own yard.
The de facto security agency of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region says that they have detected a US surveillance aircraft Global Hawk RQ-4B near ‘their border.’
The Georgian State Security Service says that 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.
Georgian citizen Erik Drulev, illegally detained in the Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) earlier this week, has been released from prison. The State Security Service of Georgia has announced earlier today that Drulev, 20, was detained by the occupying forces close to the Roki tunnel on February 5.
United States Acting Deputy Chief of Mission to the OSCE Elisabeth Rosenstock-Siller said in her address to the Permanent Council on Thursday that the US condemns the recent sentencing of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
Georgian citizen Alan Japaridze has been released from the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali prison after a four-month detention. Japaridze, who received a one-year conditional sentence by the de facto Supreme Court, was handed over to the Georgian authorities at the Ergneti village near the occupied Tskhinvali yesterday.
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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has appealed for "essential effort" from the international community in the process of ending the ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of Georgia, in a release on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the occupation.
Russian occupation forces have illegally detained two Georgian citizens close to the village of Lopani in Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali. The State Security Service has meanwhile noted that the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and other international partners have been informed and the hotline has been activated.