US State Department 2010 Report Covers the Case of Disappearance of Ethnic Abkhaz Garri Jopua

“Ethnic Abkhaz Garri Jopua reportedly disappeared on October 9 and reappeared in Abkhazia on November 8. He alleged that he was detained and tortured by Georgian law enforcement officials and credible sources found evidence that Georgian officials had detained him,” – states the US State Department 2010 report.

Abkhaz separatists have been permanently accusing Georgian side in the abduction of Garri Jopua. According to the Abkhaz media, Georgian side brought and released Jopua at the Russian checkpoints after one-month of captivity.

Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs categorically denies the fact of Jopua’s abduction.

Conflict scientist Paata Zakareishvili considers the Abkhaz information on Jopua’s abduction credible.

“It is remarkable that Americans remembered this fact and covered it in the State Department report,” – stated Paata Zakareishvili to the news agency Pirveli.

According to him, the State Department would not have included unchecked information in the report.

“Garri Jopua talked about the details of his abduction. According to him, he happened to be in the Zugdidi region by chance and Georgian law-enforcement officials kidnapped him and hid him afterwards. I believe in this story. Such facts of abductions have taken place before. After the Abkhaz side refused to take part in Chuburkhinji meeting and threatened with wrecking Geneva talks, Gari Jopua suddenly appeared at the surrounding territory of the river Enguri. If the Abkhaz side was not true, they would not be so categorical,” – stated conflict scientist and added “if Georgian side is honest they can ask for creation of international commission which will examine this fact.”

Information agency Pirveli