Sokhumi Releases Two Georgians
The Abkhaz side released two Georgian citizens, journalist Malkhaz Basilaia and Davit Tsotsoria, on March 6, Temur Iakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, has confirmed.
Tbilisi-based Mze TV reporter Malkhaz Basilaia, as well as Davit Tsotsoria and his mother, Maia Danelia, were arrested in the Gali district on February 26. Danelia was released on March 1. Beselia and Tsotsoria, however, were charged with “illegally crossing the Abkhaz border” and had until now remained in custody in Sokhumi.
Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said on March 3 that the Abkhaz authorities were willing to release the two Georgians if it was found that they had committed no crime other than illegally crossing the Abkhaz border. The statement was made at a meeting with a group of Abkhaz journalists, who called on the Abkhaz authorities to release their Georgian colleague.
The intervention of the Abkhaz reporters followed an appeal for them to do so by several Georgian media organizations.
“It is very positive that this issue has been resolved through the efforts undertaken by Georgian journalists and your Abkhaz colleagues,” Iakobashvili told Georgian reporters on March 6.
