Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili released after illegally detained by occupation regime in Tskhinvali
By Levan Abramishvili
Monday, December 30
After being illegally detained for almost two months by the occupation regime in Tskhinvali (so-called South Ossetia) region, Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili was freed on December 28.
According to the local media reports, doctor Gaprindashvili was pardoned by the so-called president Anatoly Bibilov. According to the publications, Bibilov signed a decree pardoning Gaprindashvili on December 28.
Gaprindashvili himself was surprised by the decision, saying that he was not expecting to be released so early. He was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison for ‘illegally’ crossing the so-called border and not respecting the de-facto republic. He thanked everyone involved in the efforts of freeing him, including the Georgian government, civil activists, international partners, NGOs and especially his wife and children, who have been actively demanding his freedom since the first day of his detainment.
Doctor Gaprindashvili held a press conference later on December 28, speaking about his experience in detail.
According to him, he wrote a letter requesting pardon the day before, but he didn’t plead guilty, as was his stance from the beginning.
According to the doctor, he did not change his position and told the Russian border guards and Tskhinvali militia that he had not left the Georgian border but was in the occupied territory of Georgia.
“My position from the very first day was that I didn't leave the Georgian territory and that I know how crossing the border works. I had to stay in about 7 countries this year. I know what crossing a border is. From day one, I was telling the Russian border guards and Tskhinvali militia members that I hadn’t crossed the Georgian border and that I was in the Georgian territory occupied by Russia,” said the doctor.
He also spoke about the reason why he crossed the so-called border to the occupied Tskhinvali region. He went there to see his patient.
“There is not much to be remembered. One of the main reasons for this was to see my patient, but I can’t say their name or where they live, because this would create problems for them. When I was arrested by the Russian border guards there, I told them that I wanted to see the church in the village Monasteri,” Gaprindashvili said.
He also thanked everyone for the continued support and noted that with such unity everyone should do the 'Georgian work.'
“Unfortunately, I had very little information,” the doctor noted, adding that he only had a chance to watch the Georgian Public Broadcaster only once during his 7 weeks in prison. “I knew there would be support, but I certainly didn’t expect this amount of support, it really exceeded my expectations,” he added.
Gaprindashvili also spoke about the content of the pardon request he wrote, reiterating that he didn’t plead guilty to the ‘crimes’ that the so-called authorities charged him with. “The letter says that the Russians have arrested and sentenced me and please release me,” he said.
“When there were talks about pardoning, I told whoever offered it to me that since I do not plead guilty to the accusations [they wouldn’t pardon me]. He offered me to write the letter in a way that doesn’t mention acknowledgment that I crossed the ‘border’,” he added.
Gaprindashvili also thanked the local population. According to him, during his detention, he was only eating bread and eggs and the locals there were supporting him with parcels. “I was there for a month and a half at the expense of these parcels from the Ossetian population,” the doctor noted.
Georgian authorities, civil society activists and organizations, opposition, international partners and diplomatic corps have all congratulated doctor Gaprindashvili on his freedom.
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili personally congratulated Gaprindashvili in a call, after posting on the social media that with this news, ahead of the New Year, ‘hope for the future has strengthened.’
OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger has also responded to the news via social media, tweeting: “Welcome the release of Dr. Gaprindashvili. Further detentions should be avoided and freedom of movement guaranteed for all people, at all times.”
The US Embassy in Georgia has also welcomed the release of doctor Gaprindashvili and called on the de-facto authorities to open the crossing points along the ABL (administrative boundary line).
“We welcome the news that Dr. Vazha Gaprindashvili has been released by the de facto authorities in South Ossetia. We join all Georgians and the international community in welcoming him home to spend the holidays with his family. We again call on the de facto authorities to open crossing points along the administrative boundary line and to allow freedom of movement for the local population and humanitarian access. The United States maintains its unwavering commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” reads the statement of the Embassy.
EU Ambassador to Georgia H.E. Carl Hartzell has also welcomed the release of Gaprindashvili in a tweet, he also stressed the importance of reopening the crossing points along the ABL.
“I very much welcome today’s release of Dr. Gaprindashvili, back to his family in time for the New Year. Let me at the same time recall the importance of taking immediate steps to reopen the crossing points,” reads the Ambassador’s tweet.
Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili was detained by the occupation forces on November 9 for crossing the so-called border. Last week he was sentenced to 1 year and 9 months in prison by the local de-facto court. International partners of Georgia, diplomatic corps, civil society, and the Georgian Government have been calling for his immediate release for the past seven weeks.
