Family visits illegally detained Georgian man in occupied Tskhinvali jail
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The father, wife and daughters of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze - illegally detained and sentenced by the Russia-backed occupying forces - have visited him in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) jail with the support of International Committee of the Red Cross.
- Red Cross visits Georgian man detained in occupied Tskhinvali
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The Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that Gakheladze’s wife - Irma Butkhizi - spoke with them about their meeting. Butkhuzi says her husband feels overall well, but misses his family.
Zaza says he is neither a prisoner, nor a hostage there, but rather a toy, which the Ossetians need to trade on with the Georgian government... in exchange for something”, Butkhuzi told RFERL.
Zaza Gakheladze was shot and arrested near the occupation line dividing Tskhinvali region from the rest of Georgia last summer. Earlier this year he was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison by the de facto Supreme Court for ‘illegally crossing the border and attempted murder’, which he denies.
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The Georgian State Security Security says that ‘Russia is responsible for the illegal decision’ and for all the ‘criminal and inhumane’ acts which are taking place along with the occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
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.
A Georgian man detained by occupation forces near the Russia-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) in July has sent a letter to his family via the International Committee of the Red Cross earlier today.
The US Department of States has strongly condemned the shooting and illegal detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze, 33, by the Russian-controlled occupation forces on July 11.
A Georgian citizen was shot and arrested near the administrative line dividing the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the Georgian-controlled territory on Saturday, with the de-facto authorities taking the man to detention in the occupied Akhalgori town.
The family of 34-year old Zaza Gakheladze, who was illegally sentenced to12 years and six months in prison in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region, has given the the Georgian government one month to secure the release of the man.