Georgian Minister: S.Ossetian Authorities Behind Boy’s Abduction

Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili denied on November 25 the South Ossetian side’s claims that 11-year-old Geno Petriashvili, who had been abducted, was released as a result of a special operation by the South Ossetian law enforcers. He said that this so called release was just staged by the South Ossetian authorities.

Geno Petriashvili, who was kidnapped by unknown men on August 19 in the South Ossetian conflict zone, was released on November 25. According to the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee, South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity thanked the Ossetian law-enforcement agencies for the successful special operation and stated “we proved that South Ossetian law enforcement agencies control the situation.” No one was arrested after this reported operation by the South Ossetian law enforcers.

Merabishvili said a South Ossetian criminal group with links to the South Ossetian leader was behind the abduction. He also said that the 11-year-old boy was held in the Java district of South Ossetia.
 
Geno Petriashvili told Georgian television stations after his release that he was held in a hole in the ground and that he was told by his abductors that he was in Georgia’s Pankisi gorge.

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