Georgian citizen detained by Russian occupation forces near breakaway Tskhinvali released

A Georgian citizen who was detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Perevi in western Georgia has been released and returned to territory controlled by the Georgian central government, the State Security Service said on Monday.

The agency said the individual had been detained near the village of Perevi in Sachkhere municipality, close to the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.

The Georgian authorities used all available mechanisms to secure the person's release, including the hotline operated by the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, the agency said.