The president of the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia pardoned on Saturday three Georgians and has officially released them to Tbilisi officials, a presidential spokeswoman told RIA Novosti.
According to South Ossetian authorities, four teenaged Georgians were detained in the republic's capital of Tsinkhvali on November 4 and charged with illegally crossing the border and carrying grenades and explosives. The teenagers are between 14 and 17 years old and were sentenced to one year in jail.
Two of the teenagers, Georgy Romelashvili and Aleko Sabadze, both 14, were pardoned and released, as well as Georgy Archvadze, who was detained earlier in South Ossetia during a separate incident.
"They (Three) will be turned over to Georgia today," Tamara Kelekhsayeva said.
The remaining two teenagers, Viktor Buchukuri, 16, and Levan Khmiadashvili, 17, are still serving their one-year prison term.
Eduard Kokoity pardoned two of the teenagers after meeting in Tskhinvali with the For a Fair Georgia Party leader Zurab Nogaideli.
Russia recognized the independence of the former Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia last August after a five-day war with Georgia over the latter, which was attacked by Tbilisi in an attempt to bring it back under central control. Abkhazia and South Ossetia have also been recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela, and the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru.
MOSCOW, December 19 (RIA Novosti)
