Statement of the MFA of the Republic of Abkhazia

On the 9th of October Georgian special services arrested a citizen of the Republic of Abkhazia Garry (Harry) Djopua and keep him now on the Georgian side. As a result, MFA of the Republic of Abkhazia requires from the Georgian side to free the detainee and return him to Abkhazia without any delay. This is not the first time when Georgian special forces kidnap Abkhazian citizens who then disappear without a trace on the Georgian territory. The same happened with David Sigua, who was kidnapped by Georgian special services in February, 2007. In connection with all this we are seriously concerned by safety and further destiny of detained G. Djopua.

Taking into consideration the abovementioned, the Abkhaz side applies to the EU Special Representative in South Caucasus, Mr. Peter Semneby, who has recently participated in the release of a Georgian detainee from an Abkhaz prison convicted for weapon and drug storage in large sizes, with a request to make everything possible to get back the Abkhaz citizen to his motherland.

We are also very much outraged by impudent actions of Georgian special forces who are committing illegal actions on the background of EUMM presence in the region and purportedly lead to escalation of tension.

11th of October, 2010

Source: MFA Abkhazia