Occupation forces release illegally detained two Georgian citizens

The Russian-controlled occupation forces, who detained three Georgian citizens illegally on October 4 near de facto Tskhinvali, have released two of them late yesterday, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed. 

The remaining one individual was released the same day because he received an injury in an attempt to escape and was transported to the Tbilisi-controlled territory. 

Illegal detention of Georgian citizens ‘for illegally crossing the border’ is a common issue by the Russian-controlled de facto governments of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. 

The two regions were recognised as independent states by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria following the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.

The rest of the international community, as well as the recent judgement of the European Court of Human Rights, say that the regions are occupied by Russia and that the country is exercising effective control over the historic Georgian territories.