The Democracy Research Institute (DRI) NGO says that the cases when Georgian citizens are illegally arrested by the Russian-controlled occupation forces on the Tbilisi-controlled territory are ‘too high’ The NGO says that as of now seven Georgian citizens remain in de facto Tskhinvali prison. 

“Since August 2021 10 Georgian citizens have been illegally arrested by the occupation forces near de facto Tskhinvali.

Three of the ten have been released,” DRI said. The NGO says the de facto Tskhinvali government as saying that in November 2021 alone 35 individuals were arrested ‘for illegally crossing the border.’ 

De facto Tskhinvali says that 24 of the 35 were fined, seven were released without paying a fine, while one was charged. 

The DRI called on the Georgian authorities to take ‘immediate measures’ to clarify the legal status of Georgian citizens arrested in Tskhinvali and to provide comprehensive information to the public.