Occupying Forces Illegally Detain Elderly Man

The Georgian State Security Service has announced that an 80-year-old man was illegally detained by occupying forces on May 5.

The man, Amiran Meladze, was picking vegetables in an orchard in the village of Kvesheti in Gori district when he was illegally detained. Kvesheti is close to South Ossetia which is illegally occupied by Russia.

The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) who monitor the situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia as well as the de-facto borders closely, have been informed of Meladze’s detention.

From 2017 to 2019, 327 Georgian citizens were illegally detained by occupying forces for “illegally crossing the border” in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia’s occupied regions. More than 20 people have already been arrested in 2019. Mostly, occupying forces release the detained Georgian citizens after they pay a $32 fine.

By Amy Jones

Photo source - The Independent