Georgian citizen illegally arrested by occupation forces near de facto Tskhinvali

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.

• Georgian citizen illegally detained near occupied Tskhinvali last year released

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.