Toivo Klaar, designated European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia and co-chairman of Geneva International Discussions says that the situation ahead of the 50^th round of the internationally mediated negotiations is tense and the sides are getting ready for serious talks.

The release of illegally detained Georgian Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili will be the main topics for discussions. The Georgian side will make harsh statements over the issue.

“Geneva discussions have had irrelevant results for the last years. We have experienced more difficult and less grave moments. The situation is naturally tense now. The fact that Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili is imprisoned is yet another example of incidents of detentions and abduction facts. . . .  I and other co-chairs of Geneva talks believe that the issue of detention of Doctor Gaprindashvili as well as other incidents has to be resolved on time and people must not be detained,” Toivo Klaar said.

Technical meeting of the 50^th round of internationally mediated talks will be held in Geneva today. The sides will agree on the working agenda. The main part of the negotiations will take place on December 11.

Tbilisi-based doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili was illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the occupation line with Akhalgori Municipality on November 9. He was sent to two-month pretrial detention on November 15.

Vazha Gaprindashvili was 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) to Georgia.