Illegal detentions by Russian occupying forces, illegal “borderisation” outlined in State Security Service report
The report also said there were cases of ethnic Georgians being summoned for questioning by de facto forces in the regions, in addition to cases of intimidation and harassment. Photo: Nino Alavidze / Agenda.ge
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The Georgian State Security Service said 44 persons had been illegally arrested by Russian occupation forces in the vicinity of central Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, and 13 adjacent to the occupied Abkhazia in the north-west of the country, in its annual report for 2022.
The Service also highlighted 69 cases of illegal “borderisation” by the forces adjacent to the administrative boundary marking the occupation of the Tskhinvali region and nine cases adjacent to the line separating Abkhazia from the rest of the country.
The report also said there were cases of ethnic Georgians being summoned for questioning by de facto forces in the regions, in addition to cases of intimidation and harassment.
The report noted nine citizens of Georgia remained in illegal detention in the regions by the end of the year, including Irakli Bebua, who was illegally sentenced by the occupation regime to nine years in detention.
The Service stressed the Georgian Government continued to use “all formal and informal” mechanisms at its disposal, especially the concentration of efforts of the international community, for achieving unconditional release of those in illegal detention “as soon as possible”.
It also said it had used the dedicated hotline involving the Service and the European Union Monitoring Mission to “prevent and defuse incidents, and exchange various important information” along the occupation line throughout the year.
The head of the State Security Service of Georgia, Grigol Liluashvili, on Friday said the occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia by Russia was the main threat to Georgia's statehood.
Russian occupation forces carried out illegal ‘borderisation’ activities near central Georgia’s Gori Municipality village of Zardiantkari, adjacent to the administrative boundary line separating the Government-controlled territory from the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, on Sunday.
Genadi Bestaev, illegally detained by the Russian occupation forces in November 2019 for 'illegally crossing the border and possession of drugs', has been sentenced to three years in prison by the so-called Tskhinvali court, reports the State Security Service of Georgia.
The de facto Foreign Ministry of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region says that the early release of Georgian citizen Irakli Bebua, who was illegally sentenced to nine years in prison back in December 2020, is ‘not on the agenda.’
The State Security Service of Georgia on Friday said Russian occupation forces had illegally detained six Georgian citizens near the central Georgian village of Mejvriskhevi, adjacent to the administrative boundary line separating the Government-controlled territory from the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
An annual report by the Georgian State Security Service on Friday said “more intensive” cooperation with foreign partners and allies was of “critical importance” in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.