Two Alleged Georgian Militants Released

(Tbilisi. April 8, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Two Georgian citizens, ethnic Kists (Chechen Georgians living in Pankisi gorge), were released from the courtyard today.

Georgian General Prosecutor?s Office accused Giorgi Kushtanashvili and Robinson Margoshvili for violation of the Russian-Georgian border and carrying arms.

Two Georgian citizens were detained last August together with 11 Chechen armed men, which infiltrated into Georgia from the Russia?s rebel Chechen republic.

Russia demanded their extradition. Georgia has already handed over five alleged Chechen militants to Russia, but refused to extradite Kushtanashvili and Margoshvili, as they are Georgian citizens.

The court took into consideration the Kists? lawyers? claims that Kushtanashvili and Margoshvili did not possess arms, when they were detained by the Georgian border guard, thus they were released.

However the court ruled that the investigation should be continued on alleged violation of the border by the Kists.