Russian forces illegally detain Georgian citizen near occupation line

Russian-controlled occupation forces on Friday illegally arrested a Georgian citizen near the occupied territory adjacent to central Georgia’s village of Odzisi, the State Security Service of Georgia confirmed.

The Service said the incident had taken place near the village and the administrative boundary line separating the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country.

The body responded to the latest incident by activating the hotline operated for information exchange on developments along the occupation line and informed the European Union Monitoring mission and Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions - a platform for talks between Georgian Government and de facto authorities in the occupied regions - about the development.

“All existing mechanisms” have been activated to ensure the release of the illegally detained citizen “as soon as possible”, it added.