British Ambassador says Georgian doctor should be released immediately

15:08, 21.12.2019

British Ambassador to Georgia Justin McKenzie Smith has commented on the extension of illegal detention of Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili for a further one year and nine months.

“My thoughts are with Dr Gaprindashvili & his family at this painful time. Locking up doctors when patients need them is beyond comprehension. He should be released immediately by those in control in Tskhinvali and their Russian backers,” Justin McKenzie Smith has tweeted.

The occupied Tskhinvali court sentenced Vazha Gaprindashvili to one year and nine-months to prison during the trial on December 20.

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.

Politics

Justin McKenzie Smith

Vazha Gaprindashvili