"It`s a part of Georgia, our own land, but as you know, it is occupied. I think that in most cases, our citizens do not know where there is the so-called administrative line and accidentally cross it, and the representatives of the de- facto authorities detain them. The negotiations are under way in order to return back our citizens as soon as possible and safely, for whom our department is primarily responsible," he said.
At present, there are about 20 Georgian citizens at the Tskhinvali detention center for border violation of separatist South Ossetia.
Large scale military actions were launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
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