Tskhinvali Condemns Arrest of Akhalgori Resident on Espionage Charges
By Messenger Staff
Monday, April 27, 2026
De facto authorities in occupied Tskhinvali have denounced the recent arrest of Tamaz Goloev, a resident of the Akhalgori area, on spying charges in Tbilisi. In an April 25 statement, the de facto foreign ministry dismissed the move as "unjustified" and carrying "political character," while calling for his immediate release.
The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) reported the arrest on April 22, stating the suspect was tasked with gathering information on law enforcement "regarding the locations of their deployments, forces, and assets, as well as photo and video documentation of their facilities," and the locations of "strategic infrastructure" across Georgia. While the SSSG did not initially name the suspect or the foreign power involved, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty identified the detainee as Goloev, a 27-year-old resident of Akhalgori. On April 24, a court in Tbilisi sent him to pretrial custody.
Tskhinvali officials identified Goloev as a student of "South Ossetian State University," claiming he crossed to Georgia controlled territory on April 21 for "personal affairs" before being "captured in Tbilisi as a result of provocations by Georgian security services." The de facto ministry labeled the arrest grounds "fabricated" and characterized the move as "a gross violation of [Tamaz] Goloev's rights and a continuation of the terror policies of the eras of [Zviad] Gamsakhurdia and [Mikheil] Saakashvili."
The statement further asserted that the arrest is "a clear indication that the territory of Georgia, despite the occasional 'peaceful' statements voiced by representatives of official Tbilisi, has been and remains dangerous and hostile for South Ossetia and its residents." Consequently, the de facto authorities issued a "strong recommendation" for residents to "refrain from traveling to Georgia for security reasons."
