Two Georgian citizens illegally detained by occupation forces released
The Central Government continues to work actively for the release of other illegally detained Georgian citizens, both in the occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and the occupied Abkhazia. Photo: State Security Service of Georgia
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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.
Both the “hotline” mechanism and other tools at the disposal of the Central Government were actively used in the process of releasing illegally detained persons from illegal imprisonment.
The issue of the release of the mentioned persons from illegal detention was regularly discussed in the format of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), and the information was constantly provided to the co-chairs of the international discussions in Geneva and international partners.
The Central Government continues to work actively for the release of other illegally detained Georgian citizens, both in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frank Yanez, an American citizen illegally detained by Russian occupation forces in central Georgia last month, has been released and is in the territory controlled by the Georgian Government, the State Security Service of Georgia announced on Wednesday.
The illegal “borderisation” process carried out by occupation forces along the administrative boundary line between Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the rest of the country, illegal detentions of Georgian citizens and their release will be discussed at the 108th meeting of the region’s de facto authorities and Georgian officials on Friday.
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.
Tamaz Glurjidze, the Georgian citizen illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces adjacent to central Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region earlier this week, has been released, the Georgian state security service said on Thursday.
Giorgi Jarmelishvili, a Georgian citizen illegally detained near central Georgia’s Russian-occupied village of Zemo Artsevi by occupation forces earlier this week, was released on Thursday, the state security service of Georgia said.