Georgian citizen illegally detained by Russian occupation forces released

A Georgian citizen Levan Dotiashvili illegally detained by the Russian-controlled occupation forces in central Georgia was released on Thursday, following an incident which saw the killing of the country’s national Tamaz Ginturi during an attempt of illegal arrest by occupation forces on Monday.

• Georgian citizen dead following illegal arrest attempt by occupation forces - Security Service

The State Security Service of Georgia said Dotiashvili returned to the territory controlled by the central Government, after his release had been “actively discussed” by the Georgian side on Monday at a “technical meeting” with the participation of representatives of the Russian occupation forces administering Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the European Union Monitoring Mission in Ergneti.

• EUMM issues “strong condemnation” after Georgian citizen dies following illegal arrest attempt by occupation forces

The hotline designed for information exchange along the occupation line and “all mechanisms at the disposal” of the Government were used to ensure Dotiashvili’s release, the state body noted, adding international partners were actively involved in the negotiations. 

In his comments to the media after the release, Irakli Antadze, the Deputy Head of the Analytical Department of the Service, said detained Dotiashvili had injuries on his face, sustained during his arrest and noted he would be interviewed as an eyewitness of Ginturi’s murder.

• PM calls on int’l community’s “appropriate response” to Georgian citizen’s death following incident with occupation forces

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the country’s officials on Monday called on the international community to make an “appropriate assessment and response” on the killing and detention of Georgian citizens by occupation forces.