Georgian fighter in Russian captivity missing from contact for two months, family deeply concerned

Mamuka Gatserelia, a Georgian fighter held captive by Russian forces, has not been in contact with his family for two months, raising serious concerns about his condition. His mother shared the distressing news during a live broadcast on Georgian TV channel Formula.

“The last time we heard from him was two months ago, around Easter. He sent a letter through the human rights organization Memorial,” she said. “He wrote that he was feeling a bit better. His back was injured, and he was trying to gain weight. He was only 40 kilograms when his lawyers last saw him. Since then, we’ve received no letters — nothing. He used to write twice a month. We’re very worried.”

According to the family, Memorial's lawyers are planning a visit to Gatsereelia by the end of the month. However, they fear the worst due to the long silence.

Gatserelia, now 22, was captured by Russian forces on May 20, 2022, during the evacuation of Azovstal in Mariupol. In February 2024, a Russian court sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Despite being on Ukraine’s prisoner exchange list for some time, Russian authorities have refused to release him, his mother says.

Originally from Abkhazia, Gatserelia’s family are internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled the region due to earlier conflicts with Russia. His continued detention and lack of communication highlight the grim conditions faced by prisoners of war held in Russian captivity.