Georgian citizen illegally detained by occupation forces released
“The central Government of Georgia is using all available mechanisms for the immediate release of other Georgian citizens illegally arrested by Russian occupation forces,” the SSS said. Photo: State Security Service of Georgia.
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Georgian citizen Vladimer Kaniashvili, who was illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), was released on Tuesday, the State Security Service said.
The state agency said Kaniashvili, who had been illegally arrested near the village of Tsinagara on December 9, was freed following an “active use” of the hotline mechanism used in incidents along the administrative boundary line separating the occupied regions from Georgian-controlled territory.
The Georgian Government has raised the question of release of other illegally detained citizens using the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism and the Geneva International Discussions, the two platforms used for talks between Georgian agencies and de facto authorities in the occupied regions, the Service added.
“The central Government of Georgia is using all available mechanisms for the immediate release of other Georgian citizens illegally arrested by Russian occupation forces,” the SSS said, adding the occupation regime bore “full responsibility” for the “destructive actions” carried out in the regions and along the administrative line.
Illegal detention of Georgian citizens by the Russian-controlled occupation forces for “illegally crossing the border” has become a practice along the administrative boundary since the Russia-Georgia war of 2008 and the subsequent occupation of the Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions.
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 forces carrying out occupation of central Georgia’s Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region were observed in 130 cases of illegal ‘borderisation’ on the administrative boundary throughout 2021, while nine such incidents noted along the boundary separating the occupied northwestern Abkhazia from the Georgian territory, the annual report of the Georgian State Security Service said.
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.
The release of Georgian citizen Gela Gochoshvili who was detained by the Russian occupation forces several months ago, and the illegal ‘borderisation’ process remained at the top of agenda of the 103th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) which was held in Ergneti earlier today.
Zaza Megrelishvili and Tamaz Gogichashvili, two Georgian citizens illegally detained near central Georgia’s Russian-occupied village of Lopani by occupation forces on December 15, 2021 were released on Friday, the State Security Service of Georgia said.
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.