Social media users believe the case against Tamara Mearakishvili is fabricated.

Tamara Mearakishvili, arrested in Tskhinvali, continues her hunger strike; her lawyer has appealed the decision to arrest her. Alan Kulumbegov, who was detained at Mearakishvili's home, has been released without charge. Telegram users have deemed the espionage case against the activist fabricated.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," activist Tamara Mearakishvili was found in a Ministry of Internal Affairs detention center after disappearing from her apartment in Tskhinvali, where she refused to eat. She is suspected of espionage. The Tskhinvali City Court sentenced Mearakishvili to pretrial detention for two months. Georgian activists called the case fabricated and called on the country's authorities to intervene in her defense.

Lawyer Alan Bazzaev, who represents Mearakishvili, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent today that he has appealed the decision to arrest her.

According to him, the prosecution presented evidence of Mearakishvili's social media post, which shows a "strategic tower" visible in the background.

Mearakishvili herself continues her hunger strike in protest against corruption, as she planned before her arrest. According to her lawyer, she is in good condition and has no plans to end her hunger strike.

On December 24, a search was conducted at the apartment and home of Tamara Mearakishvili's parents in Leningor, the activist's daughter told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to her, security forces seized documents from the apartment, including correspondence with various South Ossetian ministries and agencies, CDs, and certificates from her previous job as the director of a children's art center in Leningor. Mearakishvili held this position until 2014.

Alan Kulumbegov, who was in Mearakishvili's apartment at the time of his arrest, has not been charged. He was released from the temporary detention facility 48 hours later and is at home, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by a anonymous source.

A "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has not yet been able to contact Kulumbegov.

Alan Kulumbegov previously served as the Leningor District Prosecutor and has known Tamara Mearakishvili since then. He is retired. He was replaced as Leningor District Prosecutor by David Gurtsiev, who prosecuted Tamara Mearakishvili for libel, a crime in which the court acquitted her.

Social media users in South Ossetia lashed out at the authorities for Mearakishvili's arrest. Most commentators are confident that the real reason for her arrest is allegations of corruption in the Leningor district.

For example, a post about Mearakishvili's arrest on the Telegram channel "Bonvӕrnon" garnered 16 comments.

"When orders come from above, everything that happens turns into a fake. The court ruling is clear evidence of this. Don't mess with the authorities; it's very dangerous. Tamara from Leningor didn't take this into account." "She'll be sentenced to 10 years and then exchanged for some Ossetian from a Georgian prison, or her imprisonment will be used in some other way. There can't be an acquittal with such a charge. Even if she's 100 percent right, she'll still get a prison sentence. This smacks of a threat and a warning to anyone who wants to criticize the government. So I recommend all politicians keep this in mind," writes Alena.

"Mearakishvili's arrest will only cause reputational damage to the government and its cronies," commented Zarina Tekhova.

"What a pathetic accusation. What military production facilities do we have? Are we probably producing drones or military equipment?" - asked Madina.

"So, Mearakishvili was taken preemptively, so she wouldn't reach the officials. We'll see how they frame her for espionage," writes blogger Sidӕmon.