Georgian citizens illegally detained by occupation forces released

Two Georgian citizens illegally detained on Sunday by de facto authorities of Georgia's Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region have been released, the State Security Service of Georgia said on Thursday.

Chito Akhalkatsi and Gocha Mamagulashvili were detained by the occupation forces near the central Georgian village of Dvani in the Kareli Municipality, adjacent to the occupied region.

They were released following state authorities’ "active use" of the hotline mechanism - designated for developments along the occupation line - and other tools, the body said.

The SSS also said the central Government, together with international partners, continued to “work actively” for the release of all Georgian citizens in illegal detention by the de facto authorities.