The Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia condemns detention of Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili and demands his immediate release from custody.
“We agree with the statement by the European Union and call for immediate release of Vazha Gaprindashvili. Ukraine does support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its universally recognized borders," reads the statement by the Embassy.
Renowned Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili has been held in custody by the the de facto government of Tskhinvali region sonce Nov 9. He was first placed in pre-trial cell in Akhalgori Municipality. Along with Vazha Gaprindashvili, three Georgian citizens were also detained. All the three of them were fined and exiled from the territory, whereas the doctor was again taken to the cell. A criminal investigation against him is still in progress.
The de facto government has accused the Georgians of illegally crossing the so-called border. The Georgian doctor has denied the accusation by stating that he is in the territory of Georgia.
The detained doctor's family surmises that he went to Akhalgori to provide a local with medical assistance, since she was unable to cross the border and get the required treatment in Tbilisi.
The hotline has operated after Gaprindashvili's detention and The European Union Monitoring Mission has been notified of the incident.
According to Georgian PM, the government is applying all the international tools at hand to free the doctor.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili declared that she has obtained information by a number of sources saying that Vazha Gaprindashvili will soon be released from custody.
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.
The U.S. Embassy in Georgia also released a statement in which it "calls for the immediate release" of Dr. Gaprindashvili.
