On the release of Giorgi Lukava, the so-called President"s Press Service of occupied Abkhazia has released a statement. According to the occupation regime, on December 25, 2017, Giorgi Lukava was part of the process of exchange of prisoners, which began with the request of the occupied South Ossetian leadership.

Raul Khajimba"s press service confirms that Lukava was in the list submitted by the Georgian side, but the process of transmission was suspended at that time.

"Later, he and another convict Giulashvili"s were transferred in exchange for Ronald Zibba, who was hiding in Georgia and is suspected of murder," the statement of the occupation regime reads.

Giorgi Lukava was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Abkhazia. Lukava has spent in Dranda prison almost seven years. He was detained in the village of Zemo Barghali in Gali district and sentenced to 20 years in prison.