Rebels in Congo Capture Former Georgian Serviceman

Official Tbilisi confirmed last week that a citizen of Georgia, Soso Osurauli, a former Georgian serviceman who left the Georgian Armed Forces in 2015 and was working in Congo on a private contract, was captured on January 27 by rebels after two Congo Air Force helicopters were shot down.

Another Georgian was also with Osurauli during the incident. He was said to have been injured but, as Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reports, he is being treated in eastern Congo and is now safe.

“On February 22, the Georgian Embassy in Pretoria was informed by the Congolese side that a Georgian citizen had been captured and another wounded by an opposition group after a helicopter was shot down. The wounded is being treated in Goma, eastern Congo and is now safe,” the MFA report claimed.

The ministry says it is in permanent contact with the Government of Congo to keep on top of the latest situation and to protect legal rights of the Georgian citizens there.

Beka Dvali, Georgian Ambassador to South Africa, confirmed that Osurauli was captured by the March 23 Movement, a rebel group in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the Ambassador, the health of the Georgian soldier is not at risk.

“Dialogue is underway through all diplomatic channels to free the Georgian citizen… We should act carefully to get positive results,” he said.

Georgia’s National Security Council Secretary, Davit Rakviashvili, also commented on the issue. “The President’s Administration is doing its best to protect the rights of Georgian citizens,” he said.

Rustavi 2 reports that, according to the relatives of Osurauli, the rebels are demanding $1 million in exchange for his life. This information has yet to be officially confirmed.

Thea Morrison