Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs calls on so-called authorities in South Ossetia region to release Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili. As the minister stated, Latvia considers this sentence unlawful.

‘I call for the immediate release of Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili who was sentenced by the de-facto authorities of occupied South Ossetia of “illegal border crossing”.

Latvia reaffirms its support for the territorial integrity of Georgia and considers this sentence unlawful,’ Edgars Rinkēvičs tweeted.

I call for the immediate release of Georgian doctor Vazha #Gaprindashvili who was sentenced by the de-facto authorities of occupied South Ossetia of “illegal border crossing”. #Latvia reaffirms its support for territorial integrity of #Georgia & considers this sentence unlawful.

— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) December 20, 2019

Occupied Tskhinvali court sentenced Vazha Gaprindashvili to one year and nine-months to prison earlier today.

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 a 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.