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South Caucasus

Illegally Detained Georgian Citizen Released From Tskhinvali Custody


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The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said on July 27 that a Georgian citizen illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Perevi, Sachkhere municipality, along the Tskhinvali occupation line was released and is now in Tbilisi-controlled territory.

While the SSSG did not disclose the individual’s identity, in line with its recent practice, the Res news agency of the occupied Tskhinvali region identified the man as 59-year-old Merab Gabadze, saying he was detained a day earlier for “unintentional crossing” of the line.

“The central government used all relevant tools at its disposal to secure the release of the illegally detained Georgian citizen, including the “hotline” operated by the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM),” the SSSG said in a statement.

The agency added that it continues to “work actively to secure the release of all Georgian citizens illegally detained in the occupied territories.”

According to the SSSG’s latest annual report, 34 cases of illegal detention were recorded in the Tskhinvali region in 2025, while 40 cases were recorded in Abkhazia.

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