UN Mission Tries to Mediate in Release of Detained Georgians in Abkhazia

(Tbilisi, January 7, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Deputy head of UN Mission in Georgia Roza Otunbaeva visited Georgia’s breakaway Abkhaz capital Sukhumi on January 6 to negotiate with the leadership of the separatist region to release four Georgians detained in late December in Gali district.

Abkhaz authorities claim that the four were among 36 residents of the villages of Otobaya, Gagida, and Nabakevi detained for passport violations on 25 December. 32 of them are already released.

On January 6 IDPs from Abkhazia staged protest rally at the bridge over Inguri river, which is the administrative border between breakaway Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia, demanding release of detained Georgians. 

Protesters also demand closure of the railway route between Russia and Abkhazia and withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping troops, deployed in the conflict zone under the auspices of the CIS.

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