The Georgian authorities has successfully freed its two citizens. The two citizens namely Ivave Lutidze along with other Nika Mamastarashvili were detailed by Russian occupied forces.
The both citizens, Ivane Lutidze and Nika Mamastarashvili, were illegally detained by the Russian occupation forces in the vicinity of the village of Knolevi. This Knolevi village falls in territorial jurisdiction of the Kareli Municipality.
Similarly another Georgian citizen namely Zurab Lobzhanidze, who was illegally detained in the vicinity of occupied Akhalgori are free now. The all detainees were free and reached safely to controlled by the central government.
In the process of releasing Ivane Lutidze, Nika Mamastarashvili and Zurab Lobzhanidze from illegal detention, both the “hotline” mechanism operated by the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and all relevant instruments at the disposal of the central government were actively used.
The mechanism has been developed by Georgian authorities to tackle illegal detention of Georgian forces by occupied forces of Georgia. The occupying power bears responsibility for all destructive actions carried out in the occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line.
The central government, together with international partners, continues to work actively to release all Georgian citizens illegally detained in the occupied territories. Notably people sometime mistakenly cross to area which are being controlled by Russian forces illegally.
The war between Georgia and Russia which was fought in 2008 resulted into many areas falls in the illegal possession of Russia which were earlier in possession of Georgia. The main occupied areas under Russian possession are Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russia treats all these occupied area independent states not associated with Georgia.
Moreover, Russian Government and administration of these two area have entered into agreement. Under these agreement Russia has started process to integrate these two areas under its control by using economic and military force. On the other hand, Georgia consider these two areas its integral part. Georgiana also ban an entry from Russian side in this area.
