Georgian citizen illegally detained by Russian occupation forces released

A Georgian citizen who had been illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the occupied village of Balta in central Georgia on Tuesday was released on Wednesday, the State Security Service of Georgia said.

The state body said the hotline operated for information exchange along the occupation line and “all mechanisms” at the disposal of the Government had been used to ensure the release of Zurab Lobzhanidze.

The Service also said the Government, together with its international partners, continued to “work actively” to ensure the release of other Georgian citizens illegally detained in the Russian-occupied territories.