CoE Calls for Release of Two Remaining Minors

Council of Europe (CoE) leadership welcomed release of two teenagers from Tskhinvali detention and called for release of remaining two minors “within the coming days as promised.”

“We welcome the release of two of the four Georgian teenagers held in Tskhinvali by the de facto authorities in the Georgian region of South Ossetia and their safe return to their families. At the same time we emphasise the absolute necessity to release the remaining two minors within the coming days as promised,” CoE Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, and Chairperson of CoE Committee of Ministers, Micheline Calmy-Rey, said in a joint statement on December 3.

CoE Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, who negotiated release of two Georgian teenagers and five Ossetians, held by the Georgian side, said on December 2 that the authorities in breakaway South Ossetia promised to release remaining two teenagers in ten days.

He also said that problems remain as “there are people still detained on the both sides” and added that efforts would continue to resolve this issue.

CoE leadership also said in the statement that “actions of Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg have been crucial in achieving this first positive outcome.”

“We reiterate our full support for the Commissioner in his ongoing efforts to secure the release of all the teenagers in question,” the statement reads.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)