Occupation Forces Illegally Detain 8 Citizens of Georgia

8 citizens of Georgia were illegally detained by Russian occupation forces on charges of crossing the so-called “border” near the village of Akhalubani on August 17. 

As reported by the State Security Service, the detained were taken to a Tskhinvali isolator.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vladimir Konstantinidi said that the Georgian side has activated a hotline and informed co-chairs of the Geneva international discussions; he also noted that the EU Monitoring Mission had been involved in the process.

“Eight citizens of Georgia have been detained for illegal border crossing”, Murat Jioev, a special representative of the de facto president of occupied Tskhinvali region for the settlement of post-conflict issues, told RES agency. "They were under the influence of alcohol and drugs,” Jioev said.

The news agency has reported that an investigation is underway to identify the detainees.

At this stage, it is unknown when the detainees will be released from custody.

By Ana Dumbadze