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President of Georgia appeals to the international community to increase efforts for Vazha Gaprindashvili 

19:12, 13.12.2019

‘Leaving Vazha Gaprindashvili in custody aggravates the existing difficult situation,’ the Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said in a statement.

‘Despite all the efforts and active involvement of the international community, the illegally detained doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili remains in custody, which aggravates the existing difficult situation.

Once again I appeal to the international community to increase efforts to immediately release the doctor,’ the Georgian President’s statement reads.

Vazha Gaprindashvili denies the allegations because of which he remains in illegal custody, David Asatiani, the Chairman of Georgian Lawyers’ Association told Georgian First Channel.

As Lawer added Occupied Akhalgori court has left Vazha Gaprindashvili in two-month detention today.

I spoke to the lawyer, unfortunately, Georgian doctor remains in custody. He pleads not guilty.

The so-called trial is scheduled for next week. This court is incredibly uncontrollable, hence, it is impossible to predict what will happen. Now we are investigating the details,’ the lawyer said.

The so-called trial of Vazha Gaprindashvili was held 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. Tbilisi activated the hotline mechanism of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Georgia.

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