Georgian PM: “all possible measures” to be taken by Gov’t following illegal arrests of country’s citizens by Russian occupation forces

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said the Government would take “all possible measures” to ensure protection of the interests of Georgian nationals illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces earlier in the day.

Kobakhidze’s comments followed a Georgian citizen being illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces in the Gali district of the occupied Abkhazia region in the north-west of the country, while another citizen was illegally arrested in an area adjacent to the town of Akhalgori in the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region in the central part of the state.

You are aware the [Georgian] Government always acts effectively. In this case too, when it comes to our fellow citizens, of course, everything will be done to protect their interests and rights”, the PM said.

The State Security Service of the country on Wednesday said the information on illegal arrests had been revealed following the latest communication through the European Union Monitoring Mission’s hotline with the de facto authorities, initiated after the illegal detention of two other Georgian citizens in the village of Otobaia in the district last week.

The Service noted “all available mechanisms” had been activated in efforts to secure the “immediate release” of the detainees.