Georgian civilians living around the occupation line (sometimes referred to as Administrative Boundary Line) of South Ossetia frequently experience arrest, abduction and detention by Russian or South Ossetian “border guards” for alleged violation and trespassing of the “border”.
This page keeps track of the latest developments of such arrests. Archived years can be found in the left sidebar. While having mapped incidents since 2014, the blogged chronology is currently only available from 2017 onwards.
2026
17 August 2026
A Georgian citizen (born 1986) was detained on 17 August 2026 by Russian controlled forces near Sinaguri (Java/Dzau distr.) in occupied South Ossetia. The man is a resident of nearby Perevi in Georgian controlled territory. He was released with a fine and was expelled on 19 August 2026. The South Ossetian KGB stated the “border violation” was “unintentional”, hence the light treatment. Throughout 2026 this seems to a trend, after a number of years with tougher treatments and long sentences.
14 August 2026
On 14 August 2026, the South Ossetian KGB released a 46 year old Georgian citizen who was detained since 5 December 2025, after the “expiration of his sentence” (see also below). The man is reportedly a resident from Kldistskaro (Khashuri mun.).
31 July 2026
A Georgian citizen was detained on 31 July 2026 by Russian controlled forces near Ghromi in occupied South Ossetia for “illegally crossing the border”. She was released and expelled to Georgian controlled territory a day later, according to the South Ossetian KGB, which stated the “border violation was unintentional”. Further details were not provided, nor did the Georgian security services and media report on the case. The 20-year old citizen was detained shortly in 2024 as well (see below, 31 August 2024).
26 July 2026
A Georgian citizen was detained on 26 July 2026 by Russian controlled forces near Sinaguri in occupied South Ossetia. He was released and expelled a day later. According to the South Ossetian KGB the 59 year old man from the nearby village of Perevi (Sachkhere mun.) “unintentionally crossed the South Ossetian-Georgian border near the village of Sinagur in the Dzau District”.
22 June 2026
A Georgian citizen was detained on 22 June 2026 by Russian controlled forces near Bershueti of Gori municipality. He was released and expelled on 25 June 2026. The 42-year old man lives in Bershueti, which lies next to the occupation line of South Ossetia. The South Ossetian KGB concluded he crossed the occupation line “unintentionally in the vicinity of the village of Amdzarin [Tsinagri] in the Leningor district” and transfered him to the Georgian authorities.
6 June 2026
A Georgian citizen was detained on 6 June 2026 by Russian controlled forces near Sinaguri in occupied South Ossetia for “violating the state border regulations”. The 48 year old man was from the nearby village Jria of Sachkhere municipality. He was released and expelled on 9 June 2026. The occupation authorities said he “unintentionally crossed the state border near the South Ossetian village of Sinagur in Dzau District”, and was therefore just fined and handed over to the Georgian authorities.
15 May 2026
Two Georgian citizens were detained on 15 May 2026 by Russian controlled forces near the village Tsinagari (Amdzarin, district Akhalgori/Leningor). According to the de facto South Ossetian security services the two men of 26 and 50 years old were residents of the nearby village Tsitelubani of Gori municipality. They were charged with “intentionally crossing the South Ossetian-Georgian border” and were released with a fine and expelled on 18 May to Georgian controlled territory. The Georgian security services confirmed the release, but did not provide any details as part of their new policy.
10 April 2026
The so-called South Ossetian “border service” released data for the first quarter of 2026 on “violators of border legislation”. According to them a total of 97 persons violated the regime “at various sections of the state border”. Against four criminal cases were opened, while four others were expelled from Souh Ossetia. An administrative fine was given to 34 individuals, while 50 underwent an interview . A total of 97500 rubbles was collected in fines.
The majority of the arrested were residents of South Ossetia, who also have to obey to the border regime. This means that they have to possess proper documentation when visting the border zone, including border villages and agricultural farmlands.
2 April 2026
A Georgian citizen was detained on 2 April 2026 by Russian controlled forces in South Ossetian controlled territory. According to the South Ossetian security services the 43-year old man was a resident of Khashuri city and “intentionally crossed the South Ossetian-Georgian border in the vicinity of the village of Vakhtana in the Znaur district”. He was released and expelled from South Ossetia six days later on 8 April 2026. The Georgian security services confirmed the release, but did not provide any details as part of their new policy.
2 April 2026
A Georgian citizen was detained on 2 April 2026 by Russian controlled forces in South Ossetian controlled territory. According to the South Ossetian security services the 43-year old man was a resident of Khashuri city and “intentionally crossed the South Ossetian-Georgian border in the vicinity of the village of Vakhtana in the Znaur district”. He was released and expelled from South Ossetia six days later on 8 April 2026. The Georgian security services confirmed the release, but did not provide any details as part of their new policy.
20 January2026
A Georgian citizen was detained on 20 January 2026 by Russian controlled forces near Tsitelubani village (Gori municipality). According to South Ossetian occupation authorities the detention took place near Amdzarin (Tsinaragi). In other words, likely somewhere in the agricultural land between the two villages through which the occupation line runs.
According to the South Ossetian authorities the 37-year old resident of Tsitelubani “intentionally crossed the South Ossetian-Georgian border” and was henceforth fined and to be expelled from South Ossetia on 24 February 2026.
13 January 2026
Two Georgian citizens were detained on 13 January 2026 by Russian controlled forces near Dvani (Kareli municipality). They were released a week later on 20 January 2026. The Georgian authorities did not report the detention by occupation forces at the time, as they have changed their policy to only report on such cases after the individuals are freed.
“In the best interests of those illegally detained, we deliberately refrained from disclosing their names and other details in order not to interfere with the process”. They added that the past practice (of transparency) “showed that in such cases achieving a positive outcome is far more likely this way” (by not disclosing details). Also, the security services stopped sharing photos of the transfer of the persons at the Ergneti checkpoint.
According to the South Ossetian security services the two arrested were born in 1999 and 2006 respectively, and were from nearby Takhtisdziri (Kareli). The men allegedly “crossed the South Ossetian-Georgian border unintentionally” near the South Ossetian controlled village Muguti (Znaur district), which is neighbouring Dvani – the occupation line runs between the villages.
2025
23 December 2025
A Georgian citizen was detained on 23 December 2025 by Russian controlled forces near Zadiantkari (Kaspi mun.) and occupied Orchosani. He was released and expelled on 20 February 2026.
According to the so-called South Ossetian security services, the arrested was a man from Zadiantkari, born in 1992. He was accused of “intentionally crossing the South Ossetian-Georgian border near the village of Orchosani”. The ruling on his arrest was only given on 20 February 2026, after which he was fined and expelled from South Ossetia and handed over to the Georgian authorities.
5 December 2025
A Georgian citizen from Kldistskaro (Khashuri mun.) was detained by Russian controlled forces in occupied South Ossetia near Khuymta (Хуымта, Znaur distr. – Gvirgvina is Georgian name) . He was released on 14 August 2026 after having served his sentence (“expiration of his sentence”) for “intentionally” and “illegally crossing the border”.
27 September 2025
Five children were abducted by Russian controlled forces in or near the Georgian controlled village Tamarasheni (Kareli municipality). The children were all under the age of 10. According to the father of one of the children they were playing in the village, from where they were kidnapped. According to the Georgian authorities, the children were released and returned to Georgian controlled territory.
10 September 2025
The South Ossetian de facto authorities released Tengiz Korashvili and transferred him to the Georgian authorities at Ergneti who was detained since 19 May 2025. He was one of three Georgian citizens arrested near Khurvaleti on 19 May 2025, but two were released shortly after (see below). He was released after “serving his sentence”. The South Ossetian KGB released wrong information, saying he was arrested on 19 August 2025 near Amdzarin in Akhalgori municipality – a totally different place, and date.
9 September 2025
The Russian occupation forces in South Ossetia reported on 9 September 2025 the detention (on 8 September) of a Georgian citizen near the occupation line at Zemo Khviti village of Gori municipality. According to the South Ossetian de facto Ministry of Internal Affairs the person crossed the occupation line with a tractor.
He stated that he was planning to visit relatives in the village of Isakau (Isaqkau) of the South Ossetian district Znaur district, located fifteen kilometer West. The Georgian authorities were informed through the standard hotline procedure.
Gamlet Margvelashvili, born in 1976, was released on 15 September by the occupation forces. Both the South Ossetian KGB and the Georgian State Security Service confirmed this. Margvelashvili was transferred to the Georgian authorities. The KGB bow said he was “in a state of alcoholic intoxication” and “unintentionally crossed the South Ossetian-Georgian border”.
9 August 2025
A Georgian citizen was detained on 9 August 2025 by Russian controlled forces near the occupation line of Akhalgori district. More precise location not disclosed. He was released and expelled on 10 February 2026. No details were provided by the Georgian authorities, nor by the occupation authorities in South Ossetia.
2 July 2025
Georgian citizen Giorgi Mosiashvili was released from South Ossetian detention on 2 July 2025 after nearly two years. He was imprisoned since his arrest on 31 October 2023 near Sinaguri (Sachkhere municipality) – see below, at 31 October 2023, 5 June 2024 and 14 February 2025. According to the KGB of South Ossetia he “intentionally crossed the South Ossetian state border with Georgia, in the vicinity of the Sinaguri settlement, and carried out illegal extraction (catching) of aquatic biological resources.”
20 May 2025
The Russian occupation forces in South Ossetia detained three Georgian citizens on 19 May 2025, near the occupation line in Khurvaleti village (Gori municipality). One of the three was reportedly released on the same day, but the other two remained in detention. One week later, one of the remaining two, Giorgi Bolotashvili, was released and handed over to the Georgian authorities at the Ergneti exchange point.
26 March 2025
The Georgian State Security Service reported on 26 March 2025 two Georgians were detained by occupation forces. One was arrested near Ergneti village (Gori municipality) and the other in Sveri village in the Liakhvi valley north of Tkshinvali in South Ossetia. According to information available by Radio Tavisupleba, one of them is Lasha Khetereli, who was detained for the tenth time. He was last released in September 2024 from Tkshinvali prison.
9 March 2025
Three Georgian citizens were kidnapped and detained by Russian occupation forces near Plavismani (Gori municipality) on 9 March 2025. One of them was released on 11 March, the other two remained in detention of occupation forces. According to the South Ossetian KGB “foreign citizens intentionally violated the state border”. The three men (born 1954, 1979 and 1986) tried to enter occupied Chkharauli village, just across the occupation line from their home village Plavismani.
The oldest of the three was released due to “health problems” and was “expelled” (ie, transferred to the Georgian authorities). The other two men remained in custody for three months and were released on 6 June 2025.
16 February 2025
Two Georgian citizens were detained by Russian controlled forces near the occupation line. Initial reporting mentioned Dirbi village (Kareli municipality) as location of arrest, but later reporting stated they were detained at occupied Muguti village near Dvani (Kareli) . Two days later the two men, Giorgi Chitadze (1962) and Kakha Tshelidze (1974), were released by the South Ossetian KGB and transferred to the Georgian authorities.
According to the KGB they are residents of Kelktseuli (Gori municipality), a village six kilometer South-East of their place of arrest. The KGB claimed they were drunk and “unintentionally crossed the South Ossetian-Georgian border in the village of Muguti of the Znaur district” (between Dvani and Didmukha). Their agricultural equipment was returned to them upon expulsion.
14 February 2025
At the 123rd IPRM meeting, held in Ergneti, it became clear that two Georgian citizens were sentenced by de facto South Ossetian authorities to two and half year prison in Tskhinvali. Iason Gengiuri and Sergo Merebashvili were taken on 3 October 2024 by Russian controlled occupation forces near the occupation line at Mejvriskhevi village, while “attempting to demolish a border sign” (see below). In total six Georgians were reported being held in captivity in Tskhinvali, of which Giorgi Mosiashvili has been in detention since 31 October 2023 (see below).
At the meeting, the process of ‘borderization‘ by the occupation forces was also discussed. In the last four months, eleven cases were recorded by the Georgian authorities: one in November, three in December, two in January, and five in February – which suggests that after a lull, borderization activity picks up again. The activities along the occupation line concentrated in the vicinity of the village Dvani (Kareli municipality) and at unspecified sites in Gori municipality. They mostly concerned the renewing of (existing) fences and barbed wire.
22 January 2025
The Georgian State Security Service released a statement that Alexei Mamulia (53) and Vano Japiashvili (51) were released from occupation detention and transferred to Georgian authorities. The two were detained on 24 December2024 by Russian controlled forces near Tskhinvali and accused of assisting the illegal transfer of a deserting Russian serviceman to Georgia (see 30 December 2024).
According to the South Ossetian KGB they were sentenced to imprisonment for the duration of the “preliminary investigation”, which was finished on 21 January 2025. Even though the South Ossetian occupation authorities charged them in December with “illegal crossing of the state border by a group of persons by prior conspiracy”, they concluded the two crossed the border “by accident” as first offenders and therefore decided to release them.
“Considering that the illegal crossing of the state border was committed by the said foreigners for the first time, clearly by accident and with their active repentance, a decision was made to terminate the criminal prosecution and to hand over Mamulia and Japiashvili to Georgia.”
In their statement, they made no reference to the earlier accusations and “conspiracy” to assist a Russian deserter to flee to Georgia. In an interview Alexei Mamulia also did not refer to such a conspiracy.
He explained he came near the occupation line to meet with a Georgian relative from Tskhinvali whom he had to consult as a doctor. He asked Japiashvili, who is his relative, to show him the occupation line and the place where he was supposed to meet his relative from Tskhinvali (without crossing the border). Mamulia said they did not cross the occupation line, but nearby Russian soldiers thought otherwise and “completely unexpectedly came to us with weapons and masks and declared that we had violated the border”. They were taken to the detention facility in Tskhinvali and had a trial on the seventh day (30 December 2024). According to Mamulia they were treated well.
9 January 2025
The Georgian State Security Service announced on 9 January 2025 that three Georgian citizens were released from occupation detention and handed over to the Georgian authorities at the Ergneti transfer point.
Nika Mamastarashvili (34) and Ivane Lutsidze (33) were detained by occupation powers for nearly a year. They were arrested on 15 February 2024 near Knolevi. According to the de facto South Ossetian authorities, Zurab Lobzhanidze (32) was arrested on 17 August 2024 near Akhalgori. All three served their sentences according to the South Ossetian KGB, while the Georgian authorities emphasized the three were released due to their efforts via the response mechanisms.
