Georgia: German citizen detained in Abkhazia May 22

Event

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) reported that a German national was detained in the breakaway Abkhazia region (located between the northwestern corner of Georgia and the southwestern corner of Russia) after accidently crossing the border on Monday, May 22. According to the SSG, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers arrested the tourist in the village of Pichori in the Gali district on charges of illegally crossing the border. Both the FSB and the SSG said that the man was unaware that he had crossed into the Republic of Abkhazia and Georgia. According to media reports, the European Union Monitoring Mission is currently working to have the man released from custody.

Context

The Administrative Boundary Line (ABL), which separates the Abkhazia region from Georgia, is controlled by Russian border authorities and the FSB. Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia was able to acquire de facto control of the region, and of a second breakaway Georgian region, South Ossetia, following a brief war against Georgia in 2008.

Advice

Individuals in Georgia are advised to avoid the border region with Abkhazia.