Georgian Citizen Released After Illegal Detention Near Tskhinvali Occupation Line

Lasha Gulitashvili was detained by South Ossetian border guards on Aug 17 near Perevi village, Sachkhere municipality, close to the Tskhinvali occupation line, and accused by Tskhinvali's Res news agency of illegally crossing the boundary. Georgia's State Security Service said it used its EUMM-operated hotline and other channels to secure his release by Aug 19, noting 34 similar illegal-detention cases were recorded around the occupation line in 2025.