Patriarchate of Georgia calls for ‘immediate release’ of Georgian doctor from Tskhinvali custody and releases the following statement.

‘We are deeply saddened by the imprisonment of Georgian doctor, the president of the Georgian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Vazha Gaprindashvili.

Everyone knows this person as a highly experienced surgeon who has saved many people’s health and lives.

Georgian doctors, civil society, authorities, embassies and international organizations have expressed support for Vazha Gaprinsashvili. We join them and call for the immediate release of Dr. Vazha Gaprindashvili,’- the statement reads.

The United States Embassy to Georgia calls for “the immediate release” of Vazha Gaprindashvili.

The U.S. Embassy Statement on Detention of Dr. Vazha Gaprindashvili https://t.co/tcfA6VA0UG

— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) 16 November 2019

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili responded to The United States Embassy to Georgia and thanked for support.

Thank you @usingeo for your steadfast support!
In this very difficult circumstances government of Georgia is doing its utmost to protect safety and interests of our citizens. Immediate release of Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili is our main priority! https://t.co/gpg8v3UbA8

— Keti Tsikhelashvili (@TsikhelashviliK) 17 November 2019

The President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili calls on the international community ‘to react with all possible means’ to the detention of a Georgian doctor and traumatologist Vazha Gaprindashvili.

I call on the international community to react with all possible means to the detention of well-known traumatologist Dr. Vazha Gaprindashvili in the occupied Tskhinvali region. Such acts go against all international humanitarian rules and create grounds for additional escalation.

— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) 15 November 2019

Tbilisi-based doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, who was illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the occupation line with Akhalgori Municipality, has been sent to two-month pretrial detention, – State Security Service confirmed the information.

The decision was made by the Occupation Regime on November 15. Vazha Gaprindashvili was reportedly charged with “illegally crossing the border” under article 322 of the criminal code of Russia.

Tbilisi activated the hotline mechanism of EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM).