Suleiman Barbakadze, chairman of the International Society of Meskhetian Turks, released in Georgia

The President of the International Society of Meskhetian Turks "Vatan", a citizen of Russia Suleiman Barbakadze has been released from custody in Georgia, said Konstantin Dolgov, the commissioner for human rights, democracy and the rule of law of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Suleiman Barbakadze was detained on July 26, 2010, in Georgia. In late January 2011, he was sentenced by the City Court of Akhaltsikhe to 11 years in prison and payment of a fine under a fraud case. On February 11, 2011, the Russian MFA accused Georgian authorities of repressing the President of the International Society of Meskhetian Turks.

"The release of this human rights defender, who was exposed to political repression in Georgia in connection with his fight for the rights of Meskhetian Turks, is a long-overdue step, which had been resolutely urged to by the Russian party and activists of the international community, including human rights organizations," Dolgov is quoted in the message posted on May 25 on the website of the Russian MFA.

According to the above commissioner of the Russian MFA, all the necessary documents for returning Barbakadze to his homeland have been drawn up and issued. However, the MFA source did not specify the date of liberation of the Chairman of the International Society of Meskhetian Turks.

"We expect that other citizens of Russia will also leave jails, since they were thrown there on trumped-up politicized charges. We'll continue aggressively achieving it," said Dolgov.