Bagapsh Calls on Tbilisi to Release Abkhaz Official

Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh called on the Georgian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the ?illegally arrested? head of the Gali District’s local election commission, David Sigua, the Abkhaz leader?s web site reported on May 3.

The statement comes after the Georgian president?s spokesman Dimitri Kitoshvili warned the Abkhaz side on May 2 that Tbilisi would undertake ?very serious measures? if Sokhumi refused to release three Georgian students arrested two months ago.

Foreign Minister of breakaway Abkhazia Sergey Shamba told the Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television via phone on May 3 that the problem involving three Georgian students would be solved as soon as the Georgian side released Sigua.

Sigua was abducted by unknown men in February from his house in Gali. The Abkhaz side claims that Sigua, an ethnic Georgian, was kidnapped by the Georgian law enforcers in retaliation for his cooperation with the Abkhaz authorities.

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