10:05, 6 March 2018

Georgian citizens, detained in South Ossetia with Tatunashvili, are back at home

The border. Photo Sputnik / Natalya Ayriayn https://sputnik-ossetia.ru/South_Ossetia/20180303/5920033.html" class="main_article_image

Two Georgian citizens, Levan Kutashvili and Iosif Pavliashvili, who were detained on February 22 in South Ossetia together with Archil Tatunashvili, have returned to their native villages. This was reported by announced by Nugzar Tinikashvili, the administration head of the Akhalgori District.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 24 Georgian law enforcers stated that the men were released from jail, but stay in South Ossetia.

Law enforcers detained Tatunashvili, stating that he was preparing acts of sabotage. On February 23, he died in a hospital in Tskhinvali. Georgia stated that Russia was responsible for his death, and demanded that the body be handed over to his relatives; however, so far, this has not been done.

Pavliashvili is in the village of Kurta, and Kutashvili – in Bazuani with his family, Nugzar Tinikashvili said.

"We are convinced that they had no intention to commit a terror act... I am sure that after the delivery of the body of the deceased, they will be released from house arrest," he said, as the "Pirveli" TV reports.

Earlier, Maria Kotaeva, the head of the South-Ossetian Information and Press Committee, said that Tatunashvili had been allegedly involved in the preparation of the explosion of the bridge in Leningor, where they found an explosive device. On February 27, it became known that Tatunashvili's body would be handed over to Georgia after examination in Russia.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.