Activists demand to release Vazha Gaprindashvili

At the "Action of White Coats", medical officers demanded from the authorities of South Ossetia to let arrested orthopaedist Vazha Gaprindashvili return to Georgia. Activists of the NGO "Civil Initiative" submitted an appeal to the United Nations asking for help to free Vazha Gaprindashvili.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 9 and 11, four residents of Georgia were detained on the border with South Ossetia. Three of them were fined and handed over to the Georgian side, and a criminal case was instituted against orthopaedist Vazha Gaprindashvili. The authorities of South Ossetia claim that he crossed the border deliberately.

On November 18, rallies with the demand to release Vazha Gaprindashvili were held in Georgia. In Tbilisi, the NGO "Civil Initiative" held a rally in front of the United Nations (UN) office. Activists sent a written appeal to the UN's office with a request to help release Vazha Gaprindashvili, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

At the medical officers' action, doctor Alexander Pachuashvili has reported that "he also has to treat patients who stay on the other side of the administrative border." Alexander Pachuashvili has emphasized he does not understand why the orthopaedist, who, according to him, provided assistance to a patient, was detained. Alexander Pachuashvili has also noted he is surprised why doctors in South Ossetia do not express support for their colleague.

On November 18, in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Batumi, Telavi, Gori, and Rustavi, doctors carried out the "Action of White Coats"," the "News-Georgia" reports. They demanded to release Vazha Gaprindashvili immediately. Nika Chezhiya, the director of the Zugdidi Referral Hospital, called on his colleagues from Tskhinvali and Abkhazia to join the medical officers' action.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 19, 2019 at 05:52 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.