Russian-controlled occupation forces detain Georgian citizen

The Russian-controlled occupation forces have illegally arrested Tamaz Glurjidze, a 55-year-old resident of the village of Bershueti, central Gori municipality, on the charge of violating the so-called border, the State Security Service said on Wednesday.

The village of Bershueti is located near the occupation line and borders the Russian-held village of Tsinagar and the Ghromi gorge. 

According to Glurjidze’s relatives, he was visiting a fellow villager and then disappeared, noting that the man later phoned his family members and informed them that he was in custody in the breakaway Tskhinvali region.

Currently, apart from Glurjidze, there are four citizens of Georgia in Tskhinvali prison. One of them is former soldier Mamuka Chhikvadze. 

Georgian authorities are demanding the release of the individuals, raising the issue at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meetings.