Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgian Citizen Released After Detention by Russian Occupation Forces Near Bershueti
A Georgian citizen illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Bershueti in Gori Municipality has been released and returned to territory controlled by the Georgian government, the State Security Service of Georgia said on October 31.
The service said the release was secured through mechanisms available to the central government, including the hotline operated by the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM).
"All relevant mechanisms available to the central government were actively employed in the process of securing the release of the illegally detained Georgian citizen," the service said in a statement.
The State Security Service said it continues to work to secure the release of all Georgian citizens held in illegal detention in the occupied territories.
The statement did not identify the released citizen or provide further details about the circumstances of the detention.
Tbilisi City Hall Denies Claims of Mass Animal Killings
Tbilisi City Hall has rejected allegations raised by TV Pirveli that stray dogs taken from the streets are being systematically killed and buried at a site in the capital.
In an investigative report aired by the channel's Nodar Meladze's Saturday, journalists presented footage allegedly showing a white minibus transporting dead dogs from the municipal animal shelter on Tvalchrelidze Street to burial pits at Veli Cemetery during nighttime hours.
The report raised concerns that dogs brought to the shelter, including healthy strays cared for by local residents, were being euthanized before burial. Animal rights advocates also questioned whether the procedures were carried out legally and humanely.
The Animal Monitoring Agency denied allegations of mass and deliberate killings, saying the burial site is legally designated for dogs that have died from illness, traffic accidents and other causes.
"The claim that the burial site contains live dogs that were deliberately put to sleep is an absolute lie and a piece of disinformation," the agency said.
It also warned that unauthorized excavation of burial sites poses health and environmental risks.
The agency said it had contacted law enforcement authorities to investigate the excavation and urged the public not to rely on unverified information.
