Tskhinvali Releases Three Georgians

Three Georgians, held in Tskhinvali for "illegal crossing of South Ossetian border," were released on Sunday as a result of mediation by Council of Europe Commission for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg.

Hammarberg, who held talks in Tskhinvali on Sunday, accompanied the released Georgians over the administrative border.

CoE Human Rights Commission told journalists in the village of Ergneti at the breakaway region’s administrative border that it was very important that the process of release of detainees from the both sides "started again".

In what Tbilisi said was "an expression of good will", the Georgian side released on March 30 four residents of breakaway South Ossetia and two Russian citizens from North Ossetia detained by the Georgian police in a period between October 2008 and January 2010. With this release, Tbilisi has reportedly released all Ossetians detained after the August war. But Tskhinvali also insists on release of those ethnic Ossetians, who have been arrested and convected by the Georgian side for verious criminal charges before the August war.

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