Archive- 24.02.2017

Diplomatic talks underway to free a Georgian pilot in Congo

JAMnews

Georgian diplomats are holding talks in an effort to free a Georgian citizen seized by the rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo. Soso Osurauli, former Georgian military pilot was seized after the government troops helicopter had been hit by the rebels. Another Georgian pilot was wounded butmanaged to escape.

“We have established contacts with the DRC representatives through diplomatic channels. We know, that the Georgian citizen seized by an armed group is in good health. Another Georgian citizen was wounded and is now being treated in the city of Goma”, Beka Dvali, the Georgian ambassador in South Africa told Rustavi-2 by phone.

Earlier the Georgian Foreign Ministry said the DRC authorities confirm, that a Georgian citizen is being held prisoner.

According to the Georgian Defense Ministry, the Georgian citizens I Congo are not on military service, they come to Congo privately. Osarauli left the army in 2015.

Georgian military pilots had to seek for employment abroad after the Defense Ministry decision to write off the MIG-24 helicopters.

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Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the biggest and poorest African nations. In 1998-2002 twenty armed groups were waging bloody Great African War on it`s territory. Over 5 million people were killed in that war. UN peacekeeping contingent was introduced in DRC after the peace treaty had been signed. Now there is an armed conflict underway between the government forces and the Tutsis rebels in the eastern province of Kivu.