Tbilisi, Georgia, April 17
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgian journalists detained by Russians in the region of Georgian-Ossetian conflict have been released from prison.
The journalists were met by EU Monitoring Mission officials, Georgian police, colleagues and relatives on the frontline in the village of Ergneti.
Then they were taken to Gori, where they will be questioned by Georgian police on the circumstances of violating the so-called South Ossetian border.
Russian border guards detained the journalists of TV3 - Bella Zakidze, operator Vakhor Lekiashvili and technical officer Michael Mihoev on April 15 for violating the so-called South Ossetian border. Currently, they are in Tskhinvali.
Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.