Zaza Gakheladze's relatives hold protest action in Ergneti village

On June 23, in the village of Ergneti, oppositionists, activists and relatives of Zaza Gakheladze, who was convicted in South Ossetia for crossing the border, held a protest action demanding from Georgian authorities to take efficient actions to release him.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that relatives and fellow villagers of Zaza Gakheladze, a citizen of Georgia, who was wounded by South-Ossetian border guards, doubted the version that he had fired his hunting rifle at border guards. On February 5, the Supreme Court (SC) of South Ossetia sentenced him to 12 years and six months in jail under the case of illegal border crossing and encroachment on the life of a law enforcer.

On his birthday, April 23, Zaza Gakheladze's relatives held a protest action by marching to the outskirt of the village of Ergneti (located on the border with South Ossetia, – note of the "Caucasian Knot").

David Katsarava, the organizer of the protest action, complained about pressure from the authorities. "We see how people are pressured through their relatives. Now, one of them says that we shouldn't anger Russia by calling it an occupant. At the same time, the Georgian Government is idling; and the young man has been kept in jail for 11 months already. We have to wait for other 11 months; and again the family will understand that they are being deceived; and they will again try to persuade them. Thus, the authorities affect residents, by providing occupants with a favourable regime," Mr Katsarava told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 24, 2021 at 09:00 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.