The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department has been informed about the detention of six Ukrainian citizens in Tbilisi, and lawyers representing their interests have been appointed, department spokesman Vasyl Kyrylych told Interfax-Ukraine on December 3.
“The Tbilisi police department has confirmed the detention of six Ukrainian citizens. Lawyers have been appointed for the detained Ukrainians,” Kyrylych said.
The rights of the detainees are being observed, he said, citing the Tbilisi police department. “The consul is meeting with representatives of the Georgian Interior Ministry to discuss this issue,” he said.
The Georgian Interior Ministry said on Dec. 2 that seven Ukrainian citizens had been detained in Tbilisi’s Alliance Hotel. The ministry said the detention was based on Article 236 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which concerns the illegal procurement and possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
The detainees include Luka Chkhetia, a former Georgian soldier who fought for the Ukrainian nationalist volunteer battalion Donbas. The family said Chkhetia planned to join in the protest of ex-Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’ former ruling party, the United National Movement, in Tbilisi on Dec 2.
Socialist Party of Ukraine head Illia Kiva wrote on Facebook that the detainees allegedly included Verkhovna Rada deputy Semen Semenchenko, who avoided being arrested in Georgia as a holder of Ukrainian diplomatic passport. Semenchenko denied the claim and said that the detained Ukrainians had no plans to participate in protests.
