Total of 8 people kidnapped near the occupation line in Akhalubani
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, August 19
7 people were kidnapped from the occupation line in the village Akhalubani on August 17. According to the representative of the Mayor of Gori, Tariel Vatiashvili, people were detained from the church.
According to the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Vladimir Konstantinidi, in the parallel of the “borderisation” process in Gugutiantkari, detention of 7 people from the occupation line is an attempt to destabilize the situation in the country. As he said, frequent provocations and incidents harden the lives of those who live near the occupation borders and worsens already difficult humanitarian situation in the conflict-affected villages.
According to Konstantinidi, the agency immediately activated special hotline, contacted the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions, and informed the EUMM about the incident.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Russian Federation to immediately stop illegal activities near the occupation line and to fulfill its international obligations.
As the representatives of the MFA say, withdrawal of troops from the Georgian territory is the only way to establish sustainable peace and security. The agency calls on the international community to take effective measures to stop the illegal activities of the occupation forces.
According to the official information, the people detained near the occupation border are in Tskhinvali isolator. Also, another citizen of Georgia was detained near the occupation line yesterday, he is also transferred to the Tskhinvali isolator.
As the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia said, the agency is “working hard to increase international pressure on Russia to prevent illegal incidents like this.” As for those detained from the occupation line, according to Darsalia, the agency is doing everything to ensure the timely release of the Georgian citizens.
On the other hand, as a member of the Georgian National Movement, Salome Samadashvili noted, the President of Georgia and the government officials are not responding to the situation as they should, so the Russians can do whatever they want “without being punished.”
Murat Jioev, a special representative of the de-facto president of occupied Tskhinvali region for the settlement of post-conflict issues, said that people arrested near the so-called border were under alcohol influence. As he said, the health of the people who were kidnapped by Akhalubani is in good condition.
For this moment it is unknown when the detainees will be transferred to the so-called court, where the further measures will be taken.
Since the Russia-Georgia war of 2008, the kidnapping of people from so-called borders has become a frequent activity of the occupying forces, every year hundreds of people are detained for crossing a ‘border’ which divides the Georgian territory. Since 2008, more than 3000 people were kidnapped from Georgian villages for crossing occupation lines.
