Georgian journalists detained in Abkhazia deny their beating

Today, Svetlin Sergeyenkov, an employee of the Sukhumi UN Office for Human Rights, has addressed the Service of the State Security of Abkhazia with a request to have a meeting with detained journalists from Georgia Malkhaz Basilaya and David Tsotsoriya.

According to Mr Sergeyenkov, Timur Yakobashvili, State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration had demanded from the UN Mission to urgently meet the detainees, since they were allegedly beaten after the previous visit of their advocate and an employee of the UN Office for Human Rights.

Mr Sergeyenkov's request was satisfied, although the representative of the UN Mission had to refuse to make video recording of the meeting.

During their conversation with Sergeyenkov, Malkhaz Basilaya and David Tsotsoriya denied the statements of the Georgian party about beating them, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the Service of the State Security of Abkhazia.

We remind you that citizen of Georgia Maya Danelia, who was detained on February 26 in the city of Gal together with two journalists of the "Mze" broadcasting company, was released by the Prosecutor's Office of Abkhazia two days ago. After payment of the fine in the sum of 1500 roubles, she was deported from the territory of Abkhazia.

Her son David Tsotsoriya and regional correspondent of the "Mze" Company Malkhaz Basilaya were charged under Article 324 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Abkhazia: "Illegal border crossing".