23:18, 26 January 2007

A deported citizen of Georgia dies in Russia

Zurab Muzoshvili, a Georgian citizen, whom the authorities had intended to deport home, died in the reception-distribution centre of the city of Saratov, the Rustavi 2 TV Channel reported on Friday.

According to the victim's mother, Zurab Muzoshvili, 42, had lived and worked for three years in Saratov, and six weeks ago, for the lack of registration, was recognized as a person subject to deportation. He felt bad at the isolation facility, but the medical aid arrived too late, the "Echo Moskvy" Radio informs.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Georgian Diaspora have informed the NEWSru.com that the actions of Russian authorities aimed at deporting Georgian citizens have already caused deaths of 5 persons. Besides, they assert that militia raids were held near St. George Temple ("Krasnopresnenskaya" Metro Station), traditionally attended by Georgians. Under evidences of the witnesses, militiamen took away their passports for examination, tore the pages with visas out of them, defiantly broke them into pieces, returned passports, and then detained people as illegal residents.