Prisoners exchange procedure took place on the Abkhaz-Georgian border

By Decree of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia, were pardoned eight citizens of Georgia convicted by RA court for the high crimes in the territory of Abkhazia in exchange for four citizens of South Ossetia.<br>
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<b>Sukhum. March 10. Apsnypress. Dmitry Basariya.</b> The exchange procedure of pardoned citizens of Georgia and South Ossetia took place on the Abkhaz-Georgian border.

In particular, four citizens of South Ossetian detained in Georgia in 2005 and sentenced to life imprisonment, were exchanged for 8 Georgian citizens who served in the Republic of Abkhazia different sentences for the high crimes. Among their crimes - espionage, sabotage and terrorist activities, murder and kidnapping. 

RA Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Chirikba said: "This humanitarian action was made possible as a result of fruitful negotiations in Geneva with the Georgian and South Ossetian sides. Following an official request by Leonid Tibilov to Raul Khadjimba, the decision was made to help the brotherly people of South Ossetia".

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, four citizens of South Ossetia were detained by security forces of Georgia in 2005 and convicted by Georgia court. He said that today there was a significant event in the history of South Ossetia, in the relations between South Ossetia and Abkhazia. "There has been a trilateral exchange of prisoners. The presidents of the three countries signed the relevant decree of pardon, and this event has become possible ", - said Tskhovrebov.

Simultaneously, the South Ossetian side on the border of South Ossetia and Georgia transferred to the Georgian side pardoned Georgian citizens serving a sentence in the territory of South Ossetia. 

In turn, Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Paata Zakareishvili said.: "I am glad that we managed to reach an agreement with the Abkhaz and South Ossetian sides to pardon long-term prisoners. I am particularly grateful to the Abkhaz side, which helped South Ossetia, pardoning Georgia's citizens convicted in the territory of Abkhazia.

By Decree of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia, were pardoned eight citizens of Georgia convicted by RA court for the high crimes in the territory of Abkhazia in exchange for four citizens of South Ossetia.

The exchange procedure from the Abkhaz side was attended by foreign Minister Vyacheslav Chirikba and head of the expert Department of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Irakli Khintba, from South Ossetia - Minister of foreign Affairs Kazbulat Tskhovrebov and Ambassador  of South Ossetia to Abkhazia Oleg Batsiev, the Georgian side was represented by Minister for reconciliation and civil equality Paata Zakareishvili and the governor of Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti Levan Shonia.