Ilia Lutidze and Nika Mamastarashvili, who were illegally detained by Russian occupation forces in the occupied territory near the village of Knolevi in Kareli municipality, as well as Zurab Lobzhanidze, who was illegally detained near occupied Akhalgori, have been freed, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) reported on Thursday.

According to the SSSG, both the EUMM hotline and all relevant instruments available to the central government were actively used in the process of releasing Ilia Lutidze, Nika Mamastarashvili, and Zurab Lobzhanidze from illegal detention.

“The occupying force bears responsibility for all destructive actions carried out in Georgia’s occupied regions and along the occupation line.

The central government, together with international partners, continues to work actively for the release of all Georgian citizens who are in illegal detention in occupied territories,” the agency added.