Lasha Gulitashvili, a Georgian citizen previously detained by de facto authorities in South Ossetia, has been released. His detention near the occupation line had been a point of concern, and his return to Georgian-controlled territory follows ongoing efforts to secure the release of citizens held in the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Nikolai Udovichenko as a special representative for the delimitation and demarcation of state borders, encompassing those with CIS member states, and specifically with Abkhazia, Georgia, and South Ossetia. The decree, dated October 22, 2025, assigns Udovichenko a crucial role in resolving long-standing territorial disputes in the region.
A Georgian citizen, Hamlet Margvelashvili, was illegally detained by Russian-controlled occupation forces near the village of Upper Khviti in Gori Municipality. His detention, which occurred on September 8, 2025, near the Tskhinvali region occupation line, prompted immediate activation of the EUMM hotline. Margvelashvili was subsequently released on September 15, 2025, returning to Tbilisi-controlled territory.
Foreign Ministers from Russia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia are scheduled to convene in Sochi on October 1 to address security and stability in the South Caucasus. The meeting will involve Sergey Lavrov, Akhsar Dzhioev, and Oleg Bartsits, alongside separate bilateral discussions to advance inter-ministerial cooperation.
