This week, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia met with the Ambassadors of Georgia’s most important strategic allies – the United States and the European Union – to discuss the recent extension of the unlawful detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze in occupied Tskhinvali.
Gakheladze, a Georgian citizen, was shot and illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the boundary line with Tskhinvali on Tbilisi controlled territory in July 2020. This week, Gakheladze was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison.
After the meeting with diplomatic allies, Prime Minister Gakharia said “We discussed with US Ambassador Degnan and EU Ambassador Hartzell the Russian occupation regime’s provocations and the illegal detention of Zaza Gakheladze. Our strategic partners reiterated their commitment to raise the issue at the highest levels of international platforms.”
The US Embassy in Tbilisi harshly condemned the actions of the occupation regime: “Today’s sentencing is yet another example of Russia’s attempts to illegally control and exploit the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russian actions threaten the lives, human rights, culture, and personal freedoms of people living in and near these Georgian territories, and deny them the ability to exercise rights and access opportunities that should be available to all Georgian citizens. Russia must reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and fulfill its obligation under the 2008 ceasefire agreement to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions and its commitment to provide unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We express solidarity with Mr. Gakheladze and his family, and all families who have had to endure Russia’s oppressive occupation.”
The Georgian Government has called on the international community to increase pressure on the occupation regime in response to its provocative actions to prevent the illegal detention of Gakheladze and other citizens in Tskhinvali.