Georgian rights defenders ask CoE to help in releasing doctor Gaprindashvili

Eleven NGOs have called on the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe (CoE), the PACE and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to use all their political influence for solving the problems that arose because of the closure of the border with South Ossetia, and to release the detained doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 15, a South-Ossetian court arrested a Tbilisi doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was detained in the border area, for two months. The KGB (Committee for State Security) of South Ossetia stated that the doctor's violation of the border had to do with the "hybrid operation" of the Georgian law enforcers. Actions in support of Gaprindashvili were held in Georgia.

The absence of political and legal regulations "has a serious effect" on the observance of human rights among residents of South Ossetia, the above NGOs have stated.

The appeal says that because of South Ossetia's bordering "severe humanitarian and social consequences" arose; the freedom of travel of the population was restricted; and human rights were violated. "The situation worsened after the closure of the last checkpoint on September 4, 2019. On October 28, a 70-year-old woman died in Tskhinvali because she failed to receive due medical care," says the statement.

The detention of doctor Gaprindashvili was a consequence of the difficult humanitarian situation in the region. The appeal indicated that the doctor had been in the local prison for two weeks, and the engaged diplomatic and political tools gave no effect.