Two brothers unlawfully detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Plavismani have been freed and returned to Georgian government-controlled territory.

Tariel and Leonide Tenadze were arrested in occupied territory adjacent to Plavismani village in the Gori municipality, according to Georgia’s State Security Service.

The agency said both the EU Monitoring Mission’s “hotline” mechanism and all relevant instruments available to the central government were actively used in securing their release from illegal imprisonment.

“The central government continues active efforts to free all Georgian citizens held in illegal detention in the occupied territories,” the State Security Service said in a statement.

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