20:00, 11 February 2012

Georgia's MIA: Georgian monk released in Abkhazia

The Georgian priest and monk, Father Iona, who was kept in the territory of Abkhazia for more than two weeks, was released as a result of actions of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Shota Utiashvili, the head of the analytical department of the MIA, said today at a special briefing.

The disappearance of the priest was reported on January 28 by Archbishop Seraphim, Metropolitan of Borjomi and Bakuriani. He said that the monk went to the territory of Abkhazia on January 24 and never appeared back. According to his relatives, some unknown people from Abkhazia contacted them and demanded a ransom of 100,000 US dollars for Father Iona.

As a result of the actions undertaken by the Georgian MIA Father Iona was released. He was taken from the territory of Abkhazia to the adjacent area controlled by the Georgian party, the "Georgia Online" reports.

"The actions undertaken by us gave result. Father Iona was released from captivity and is now in Tbilisi," the "News of Georgia" quotes Mr Utiashvili as saying.

So far, there are no comments of the Abkhazian party on this incident.