Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 27 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
Four Chinese citizens, who had been detained by Russian forces in Georgia, have been released, said the police department of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region bordering Abkhazia, adding that the detainees had been kept at the Gali Region Police Department for a few hours.
The four Chinese businessmen were arrested by Russian security forces on Sunday near the Saberio village and were accused of illegally crossing what is termed by some as the Georgian-Abkhazian border.
Their driver, who was able to escape, told the Georgian police about the incident.
The reasons of release of the Chinese businessmen, who are employees of the enterprise engaged in manufacturing wood products in the Tsalendzhihsk region of Georgia, are not known yet.
Military actions were launched in the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia in August 2008 with Georgian troops entering Tskhinvali and Russian troops later occupying the city, driving the Georgian military back into Georgia.
Georgia's autonomous regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia unilaterally declared independence from Georgia after the 2008 August war. The separatist regions were supported by Russia, with the country later establishing diplomatic relations with the de facto states despite protests from the West. Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.