Georgian citizen illegally arrested by occupation forces near de facto Tskhinvali
This is the sixth arrest for Lasha Khetereli for ‘illegal border crossing.’ He was released in June 2021 after a year in de facto Tskhinvali prison. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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 central government of Georgia is using all available mechanisms for the immediate release of the Georgian citizen illegally arrested by Russian occupation forces,” SSS wrote.
This is the sixth arrest for Khetereli for ‘illegal border crossing.’ He was released in June 2021 after a year in de facto Tskhinvali prison.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says that Khetereli has been living in a small town of Shaumiani in the Marneuli Municipality since the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. He has relatives in occupied Tskhinvali and visits them occasionally.
The illegal arrest of Georgians 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) regions 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 rest of the international community maintains that the regions are being occupied by Russia.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russian occupation forces have illegally detained a Georgian citizen in the village of Bershueti in central Georgia’s Gori municipality, near the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, the Georgian state security service confirmed on Wednesday.
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.