Mamuka Chkhikvadze, a 35-year-old former law enforcement officer, has been illegally detained by the Russian occupation forces for three days now. Family members have no information on his whereabouts or condition.
Relatives of Mamuka Chkhikvadze say that the government should use all levers to release the Georgian citizen, otherwise they will announce protest rallies.
Reportedly, the captured Georgian citizen is currently being held in the Tskhinvali pre-trial detention center.
According to US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, the illegal detention of Georgian citizens by the Russian occupation forces in the occupied territories is unacceptable.
Degnan said Russia must fulfill its commitment to a ceasefire and end illegal detentions.
“We are always very, very concerned when we hear about Georgian citizens being detained or harassed along the ABL. This is unacceptable and it’s a kind of pressure and harassment that simply has to stop. It needs to stop and will stop as soon as Russia complies with its obligations under the 2008 agreement to withdraw its forces. It is a very simple step that Russia needs to take. And that is what everyone is waiting to see in terms of ending this kind of harassment, continued harassment of Georgian citizens, and promoting any kind of better atmosphere for discussions. So, let us hope that we will soon see Russia fulfill its obligations that it undertook in 2008,” the ambassador said.
