I want to thank Ossetian locals who were bothered for me and sorry if they were troubled because of me – Georgian Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, released from the illegal imprisonment by the occupational regime earlier this afternoon, said during a special press conference held at National Library of Georgia.

“In the last speech, which I gave there and that can be released in the Ossetian and Russian-language press, it can be said that as if in the court I had said that I regretted about the crime. I want to say that I used the right of keeping silence,” Gaprindashvili claimed.

The released doctor expressed gratitude to the Ossetian population. He said that he largely depended on the parcels delivered by Ossetian locals during his 1.5-month long captivity since he refused to eat anything in the prison and was only taking bread and eggs.

Georgian Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili was released by the occupational regime earlier this afternoon. He answered questions of journalists at a press conference.

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.