As of today, 7 people abducted from the Tbilisi-controlled area ​​ are in the Tskhinvali detention facility. According to the information published in open sources by the State Security Service of Georgia, from August 2021 until today, 10 people have been arrested for crossing the de facto border; three of them have already been released.

For its part, the press service of the de facto regime’s KGB published information that in November the number of illegal crossing of the so-called border increased dramatically. According to Tskhinvali, a total of 35 people were detained, 31 - for violating the so-called state border and 4 - for violating the de facto border. As a result, 24 persons were fined, 7 were released without fines, administrative proceedings were terminated against one person.[1]

Along with active borderization by the so-called border guards, the detention of Georgian citizens on charges of "illegal border crossing" without any legal basis has intensified in Tskhinvali and the Georgian authorities do not have a clear public reaction to it. The facts show that the Government fails to provide adequate protection and security to the population living along the occupation line.

Occupation forces arrested 3 people on October 5 and 2 others on December 10. The identities of these 5 people have not been made public, their current condition is unknown. On December 12, occupation forces abducted former military servant Mamuka Chkhikvadze from the village of Nikozi. According to unconfirmed reports, he has been beaten. Mamuka Janelidze, who was arrested on December 1 and released on December 4, also pointed to physical violence by the so-called border guards.

Gela Gochoshvili, who, according to official information, was detained for crossing the so-called border, has been illegally detained since August 14, 2021. According to the Democracy Research Institute, the Gochoshvili family lives in the Kaspi district and has family members in Akhalgori as well. His arrest became known to Tbilisi in late September. According to unconfirmed information, Gochoshvili was charged with other criminal offences as well. Information about his rights situation and health is still unknown.

According to the Democracy Research Institute, the passivity of the Georgian authorities at the international level and lack of information on the grounds and number of detentions, as well as the condition of the detainees, indicate not only illegal deprivation of life, but also the violation of the fundamental rights of the detainees, whose lives and health are endangered.

The Democracy Research Institute calls on:

The Georgian authorities - to take immediate measures to clarify the rights situation of Georgian citizens detained in Tskhinvali and to provide comprehensive information to public.

The international community and the Georgian authorities - to use all the levers at their disposal to ensure the immediate release of Gela Gochoshvili, Mamuka Chkhikvadze and Georgian citizens detained in Tskhinvali. It is necessary to stress the worsening tendency in Tskhinvali and to work proactively with the international community to resolve the above-mentioned issues quickly and effectively.

 

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CXdv0vBIeJZ/