Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TBILISI2257
2009-12-21 13:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:
GEORGIA: TWO TEENAGERS HELD SINCE NOVEMBER 4
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002257
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: TWO TEENAGERS HELD SINCE NOVEMBER 4
RELEASED
REF: TBILISI 002131
Classified B: Deputy Chief of Mission Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002257
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: TWO TEENAGERS HELD SINCE NOVEMBER 4
RELEASED
REF: TBILISI 002131
Classified B: Deputy Chief of Mission Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) Three Georgians youths were released by the South
Ossetian de facto authorities on Saturday December 19th,
including two teenagers detained on November 4th and one 16
year old boy detained in July (ref A). Council of Europe
Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg met on December
17 with the de facto authorities in South Ossetia to secure
their release. Hammarberg had previously negotiated with the
de factos the week of November 29th, at which time two other
Georgian teenagers were released. During that visit,
Hammarberg announced his expectation that the two remaining
teenagers would be released within ten days, or by December
12 (ref A).
2. (C) On December 18th, the European Monitoring Mission
(EUMM) and OSCE reports indicated that the South Ossetian de
factos had altered their previous position, stating on the
18th that the release of the two was never previously agreed.
Unexpectedly, former Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, who
had returned from a recent high-profile trip to Moscow, met
with de facto authorities in South Ossetia on December 17th
and attended the hand over of the released prisoners.
Noghaideli appeared at a press conference with de facto
"president" Eduard Kokoity, Russian Human Rights Ombudsman
Vladimir Lukin, and Hammarberg.
3. (C) Georgian political figures broadly welcomed the
release of the Georgian teenagers but were skeptical of ex-PM
Noghaideli's role in the process. Both majority and minority
parliamentarians suggested that Noghaideli's involvement
amounted to Russian control of the process, with some MPs
asserting that it was an attempt to discredit the Georgian
government in the eyes of the people.
BASS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: TWO TEENAGERS HELD SINCE NOVEMBER 4
RELEASED
REF: TBILISI 002131
Classified B: Deputy Chief of Mission Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) Three Georgians youths were released by the South
Ossetian de facto authorities on Saturday December 19th,
including two teenagers detained on November 4th and one 16
year old boy detained in July (ref A). Council of Europe
Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg met on December
17 with the de facto authorities in South Ossetia to secure
their release. Hammarberg had previously negotiated with the
de factos the week of November 29th, at which time two other
Georgian teenagers were released. During that visit,
Hammarberg announced his expectation that the two remaining
teenagers would be released within ten days, or by December
12 (ref A).
2. (C) On December 18th, the European Monitoring Mission
(EUMM) and OSCE reports indicated that the South Ossetian de
factos had altered their previous position, stating on the
18th that the release of the two was never previously agreed.
Unexpectedly, former Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, who
had returned from a recent high-profile trip to Moscow, met
with de facto authorities in South Ossetia on December 17th
and attended the hand over of the released prisoners.
Noghaideli appeared at a press conference with de facto
"president" Eduard Kokoity, Russian Human Rights Ombudsman
Vladimir Lukin, and Hammarberg.
3. (C) Georgian political figures broadly welcomed the
release of the Georgian teenagers but were skeptical of ex-PM
Noghaideli's role in the process. Both majority and minority
parliamentarians suggested that Noghaideli's involvement
amounted to Russian control of the process, with some MPs
asserting that it was an attempt to discredit the Georgian
government in the eyes of the people.
BASS