“The doctor who went to the occupied territory to help a patient is an illegal hostage, he must be released immediately”, Davit Zalkaliani stated at the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers.
“I had conversations with the Co-Chairs of Geneva, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the Slovak Foreign Minister. I asked the OSCE Chairperson to take active steps to immediately release Vazha Gaprindashvili. I have been in contact with the EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini and she is also aware of this case. The EU must use all resources. The UN is involved in the process as well. During the meeting with the NATO Deputy Secretary General, we talked about the importance of the illegal detention of Georgian doctor", Zalkaliani said.
Vazha Gaprindashvili has been held in custody by the de facto government of Tskhinvali region since November 9. Demonstrations in support of Gaprindashvili have been held in the city and regions. His colleagues and adherents staged a White Lab Coats Demonstration outside their clinics. Three more persons detained together with the doctor were released after paying financial penalty. Criminal investigation of the case is in process charging illegal borderline breach.
Tamta Kapanadze
News Author