Georgian citizens illegally arrested by occupation forces denied bail
The State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia reports that the hotline of the European Union monitoring mission (EUMM) in Georgia has been activated and co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions involved in the process. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Kakhaber Natadze, 44, and Vladimer Kaniashvili, 38, arrested illegally by the Russian occupation forces on December 10 near the village of Tsinagara for ‘illegally crossing the border’, have been denied bail by the so-called Tskhinvali court, RFE/RL's Georgian service reports.
Natadze and Kaniashvili are currently in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali prison awaiting trial.
The so-called State Security Committee of South Ossetia reported yesterday that along with ‘illegal border crossing’, one of the accused has been charged with drug smuggling.
Russian occupation forces arrested three Georgian citizens last week overall, including former soldier Mamuka Chkhikvadze near Zemo Nikozi village in Gori municipality on December 12.
Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will visit Chkhikvadze, as it is the only international organisation allowed inside Tskhinvali prison.
The State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia reports that the hotline of the European Union monitoring mission (EUMM) in Georgia has been activated and co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions involved in the process.
The illegal arrest of Georgian citizens is a common issue near the occupation line. Usually, those arrested are released once their families pay a fine.
Russia declared the independence of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on August 26, 2008, following the Russia-Georgia war.
However, only four other countries – Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria – share Russia’s position regarding the occupied Georgian territories’ status, while the whole international community states that the regions are occupied by Russia.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says the illegal arrest of Georgian citizens by Russian occupation forces in the occupied territories is a matter of concern. Degnan noted that Russia must fulfil the Ceasefire Agreement of August 12, 2008 and stop illegal arrests.
Russian occupation forces have illegally arrested Georgian citizen Mamuka Chkhikvadze near Zemo Nikozi village in Gori municipality earlier today.
The Russian-controlled occupation forces have illegally arrested two Georgian citizens near de facto Tskhinvali, at the village of Tsinagara, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed.
Georgian citizen Malkhaz Janelidze who was illegally arrested by the Russian-controlled occupation forces on December 1 near the village of Vaneli in Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region was released late yesterday. Janelidze said following his release that he was travelling to Russia for work and treatment when he was detained.
The Russian-controlled occupation forces have illegally arrested one Georgian citizen near de facto Tskhinvali, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed.
A total of seven Georgian citizens remain illegally imprisoned by the Russian occupation forces as of December 24, Georgian State Security Service (SSS) representative Giorgi Sabedashvili reported.
Four Georgian citizens illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Adzvi in Gori municipality have been released. Russian occupation forces illegally arrested the Georgian citizens yesterday on December 23.
Russian occupation forces have illegally arrested two Georgian citizens near the village of Lopani in Khashuri municipality, the State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia reported today.
Georgian citizen Lasha Khetereli has been illegally arrested by occupation forces close to the Russia-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) for 'illegally crossing the border.' The State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia reported that the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) have been informed about the case.
The State Security Service of Georgia has reported “illegal destructive activities” observed in the occupied territories near the central Georgian village of Mejvriskhevi, adjacent to the administrative boundary line separating the government-controlled territory from the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
The Russian occupation forces carried out various types of unlawful activities, including illegal ‘borderisation’, throughout the month of January along the de-facto boundary line separating the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the government-controlled territory, Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS) has announced.
Georgian citizen Mamuka Chkhikvadze, illegally detained by the Russian occupation forces near the central Georgian village of Upper Nikozi on December 12, has been illegally sentenced for five years and six months in detention in the occupied Tskhinvali region, the State Security Service of Georgia said on Thursday.
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.