Occupation Forces Detain Georgian Citizen in Gori Municipality
By Khatia Bzhalava
Wednesday, December 15
Russian occupation forces illegally detained Georgian citizen Mamuka Chkhikvadze near the village of Zemo Nikozi in Gori Municipality on December 12. As the State Security Service (SSS) reports, the information has been provided to the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions.
“The central government of Georgia is using all available mechanisms for the immediate release of Georgian citizens illegally arrested by Russian occupation forces,” SSS said.
According to the agency, the destructive actions carried out by Russian occupying forces in the occupied regions and along the occupation line, such as arbitrary detentions, damages the security environment in the region and affect the everyday life of locals.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has responded to the fact, calling it ‘unacceptable’. As she noted, the pressure and harassment on the Georgian citizens will stop if Russia complies with its obligations under the 2008 agreement to withdraw its forces.
“We are always very concerned when we hear about Georgian citizens being detained or harassed along the ABL… It is a very simple step that Russia needs to take [withdraw its forces] and that is what everyone is waiting to see in terms of ending this kind of harassment, continued harassment of Georgian citizens, and promoting any kind of better atmosphere for discussions,” the US ambassadors noted.
The illegal detention of Georgian citizens is a common issue near the occupation line. On December 10, two other Georgian citizens were detained near de-facto Tskhinvali. Relatives of Chkhikvadze state that the government must use all levers at its disposal to release the Georgian citizen, otherwise they will announce protest rallies.
