02 May 2007, 23:00
Georgia demands release of students detained in Abkhazia
Georgia is ready to take serious steps to have the three Georgian students seized by Abkhazian separatists on March 1 in Shamgona village of the Zugdidi District released, Dmitri Kitoshvili, parliamentary secretary of the President of Georgia, has declared today on behalf of the latter.
"Despite numerous appeals of the Georgian party and involvement of international organizations, Sukhumi wouldn't hurry to release the kidnapped Iveri Korshiya, David Gachava and Koba Rigvava. This capture was a usual criminal action, an element of separatists' criminal activity practiced in the conflict zone, and all the three are just separatists' hostages," Mr. Kitoshvili has stated.
He has again emphasized that the authorities of Georgia have taken all possible efforts to run peaceful talks with the aim to release the hostages.
According to secretary Kitoshvili, today President Mikhail Saakashvili will meet the parents of the kidnapped students.
Author: Alena Aleschenko, CK correspondent