Abkhazian De-facto Government Supposes to Release Malkhaz Basilaia and Davit Tsotsoria

General Evgeni Ochalov

Officials from the Abkhazian De-facto Government claim that Davit Tsotsoria was also an employee of the Georgian TV Company “Mze” along with Malkhaz Basilaia, the journalist working for the TV Company. Sergei Bagapsh, the president of the self-proclaimed Abkhazian Republic spoke about the possible release of both detainees after Abkhaz journalists officially appealed to him with the request during a special meeting in Sokhumi. If Malkhaz Basilaia and Tsotsoria are not found guilty for anything other than illegal crossing of the border, like spying, then they will be set free in the nearest future.

On March 3 a meeting was arranged with Sergei Bagapsh at the initiative of Abkhazian journalists in Sokhumi. Representatives of the Abkhazian media sources introduced him with the collective letter of Georgian journalists that represented nearly 16 media sources. The letter states “We, Georgian journalists, have always tried support peaceful reconciliation of the conflict….We Georgian journalists will never support the concept that a military option will bring about resolution of our conflict, such a conflict will only lead to bloodshed. Moreover, we are not going to do anything to provoke the conflict.”

Representatives of the News Agency “Apsnipress”, newspaper “Nuzhnaia,” “Respublika Abkhazia”, magazine “Grazhdanskoe Obshestvo” and TV Station “Abaza TV” met with de-facto President Sergei Baghapsh.

“We understand the essence of the government’s refusal to lead dialogue with the Georgian side, which is demanding that the Georgian journalists be released under the treat of an ultimatum, we petition you to set the Georgian journalists free in order to show to the entire world that Abkhazia is ready to follow civilized norms of behavior. Last year Abkhazian government released Georgian students without any prior conditions and in doing so you demonstrated your faith to humanity and respect to human rights,” stated the appeal of Abkhaz journalists.

Sergei Bagapsh made a statement at the meeting. “If the investigation concludes that the detainees only illegally crossed the border and they did not have other criminal intentions, we might positively settle the question of securing their freedom.”

Manana Gurgulia, director of the News Agency “Afsnipress” made a situation comment regarding the appeal of Georgian journalists. She was disappointed that the appeal was sent by fax. Gugulia had claimed that the appeal was anonymous.

Manana Gurgulia: “I am fully aware how Georgian journalists are concerned about their colleague and they are eager to support him. However, I am surprised by the fact that the appeal does not have any signatures; only media sources are indicated on the appeal. The appeal was not distributed by internet while they are always spreading disinformation about Abkhazia. We are also surprised by the fact that Georgian Government and journalists are only concerned about the plight of Malkhaz Basilaia, not about Davit Tsotsoria. It seems that the Georgians are worried about their citizens in a selective fashion.

Manana Gurgulia stated that despite all above-mentioned circumstances, Abkhaz journalists considered it was their obligation to support their appeal and petitioned Sergei Bagapsh with the personal request to release the two detainees.

Kristian Bzhania, press-speaker of the De-facto President, announced that journalists were not arrested because of government’s stubbornness. “It is a result of hard experience and the law demands it too. Another point is what Sergei Bagapsh’s final decision will be after there are judged. The de-facto president remembers several provocative facts of Georgian journalists and Georgian government’s eager to create a political show based on such provocations. The show’s participants are to decorated with state awards and medals. I am sure that they will first hold boisterous press-conferences. The Georgian government will thank Basilaia and Tsotsoria for the bravery that they demonstrated during imprisonment was passed on them by Abkhazian separatists. The situation will not do anything to deal with the reality. The Georgian government does not care about its own citizens.”

Kristian Bzhania calls upon everybody to comments about the fact that Georgia actually support the detainees and should avoid unreasonable statements that may have an impact on finding a positive solution to the problem.

Negative and unreasonable results followed the statement of the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili about the status of the detainees. Supposedly the issue of the release of the Georgian journalist and his companions became more complicated following his statement. The official statement of Abkhazian side reflected a negative attitude.

“I want to tell something to Sergei Baghapsh and let him listen to me carefully.  I am going to speak in the Georgian language, which he knows very well: either he should order his illegal militia to stop torture of the detained journalist and set him free immediately, or I, Georgian president, will provide a fully legal order to Georgian police to release Basilaia in Sokhumi. Now Bagapsh should decide and not wait!” stated Mikheil Saakashvili while he was visiting Adjara Autonomous republic.

On the third day after the journalist was arrested, on February 29, officials from the Abkhazian de-fact government consider that Mikheil Saakashvili’s threat started to realize when the car of Abkhaz separatists was blown up  in the village of Nabakevi in the Gali district.  Three militia men were badly wounded as a result.  Both Sokhumi residents and the Georgian population still expect that Georgian president will take further measures in future too. Similar statements of the president might be adequate for the situation when your citizen is detained. However, in this particular case, Samegrelo’s residents concluded that it was exaggeration, especially when the background of tense relationship between Georgian and Abkhazian people was taken into consideration,

Locals were evacuated from the conflict zone after the explosion in the village of Nabakevi. Immediately, Georgian people crossed the River Enguri with their babies in hands to avoid possible hostilities. They took up shelter in the village of Khurcha in Zugdidi district. However, local population survived the attack and mass expulsion this time. However, the complete staff of the Gali Administration within the De-facto Abkhazian government appeared in Nabakevi several minutes later. They were followed by armed Abkhazian militants. Military equipment and soldiers deployed in the village. Sergei Baghapsh announced emergency situation in the district.

Abkhaz separatists blamed Georgian special units for causing the car explosion in Nabakevi. However, simultaneously the information was shared that Malkhaz Basilaia, who arrived in the conflict zone to prepare materials on Russian Presidential Elections, was betrayed by a Georgian law enforcers who informed Abkhaz militia about his trip. Davit Tsotsoria, relative and guide of Basilaia had information about it too. However, many of the questions that emerged in relation to the situation can be answered only after the release of the two journalists.

The parties argue about the place of the detention. Based on information spread by the Georgian TV Stations the journalist was arrested on the bridge over the Rveir Enguri. General Evgeni Ochalov, the head of the United HQ of CIS Peace-Keepers categorically denied the detention of the journalist at block posts 301 and 201 as well as seizure of video-camera. He was supported by a Georgian observer at the block post. Ruslan Kishmaria, Bagapsh’s personal representative to Gali District, claims that on February 26 journalist for the TV Company “Mze” and his companions were arrested in Tkvarcheli on their way to Sokhumi.

Malkhaz Basilaia and Davit Tsotsoria were accused for illegal crossing of border by the Abkhazian Prosecutor’s Office and sentenced them to one-month preliminary imprisonment. As for Tsotsoria’s mother, an IDP from Gulripshi district, Maia Danelia was released from imprisonment. She paid 1 500 roubles as a fine.

Georgian government has been unsuccessfully demanding the release of Malkhaz Basilaia and Davit Tsotsoria. The negotiations of UN and other human rights organizations were not useful with teir dealings with the Abkhazian side. Temur Iakobashvili, the Georgian State Minister for Reintegration, still waits for positive results; he personally met relatives of the detained journalist in Zugdidi and promised to take all necessary measures to set Basialaia free. On March 2 with the support of Iakobashvili, mother could speak with the journalist over the phone. The journalist assured his mother that he felt well. Meanwhile, the bridge of the River Enguri and UN Zugdidi Office became the venue to pretest demonstrations. The Egalitarian Institute, students, teacher were constantly protesting. Yesterday family members of Basilaia stopped their hunger-strike that was taking place in front of the UN office after five days. They blamed UN mission for inactivity in the matter and thought that two days would have been long enough to secure the release of the detainees.