Ilia Lutidze and Nika Mamastarashvili, who were unlawfully detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Knolevi, Kareli Municipality, as well as Zurab Lobzhanidze, who was unlawfully detained near the occupied Akhalgori area, are free and are on territory controlled by the central Government.

“The process of releasing Ilia Lutidze, Nika Mamastarashvili, and Zurab Lobzhanidze from illegal detention actively involved the “hotline” mechanism operated by the EU Monitoring Mission [EUMM], as well as all relevant instruments available to the central Government.

Responsibility for all destructive actions carried out in Georgia’s occupied regions and along the occupation line lies with the occupying forces.

The central Government, in collaboration with international partners, will continue its active efforts to secure the release of all Georgian citizens held unlawfully in the occupied territories”, - reads the statement of the State Security Service of Georgia.