Georgian citizen illegally detained by occupation forces released

Georgian citizen Petre Kalashnikov, who was illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), was released on Thursday, the State Security Service said.

The state agency said Kalashnikov was freed following an “active use” of the hotline mechanism applied in incidents along the administrative boundary line separating the occupied regions from Georgian-controlled territory and “all the relevant tools” at the disposal of the central government.

The Georgian Government has raised the question of the release of the illegally detained citizen using the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism and the Geneva International Discussions, the two platforms used for talks between Georgian agencies and de facto authorities in the occupied regions, the Service added.

The SSS stressed the central government, together with international partners, continued “active work” to release other Georgian citizens illegally arrested by Russian occupation forces, noting the occupation regime bore “full responsibility” for the “destructive actions” carried out in the regions and along the administrative line.