Irakli Bebua, who had been illegally detained by the occupying regime, is now free and within the territory controlled by the Georgian government, according to a statement from the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG).

Bebua was wrongfully sentenced to nine years in prison, though he spent a total of four years and six months in illegal detention, the statement revealed.

The Security Service highlighted that various measures were employed to facilitate Bebua’s release and ensure his health was monitored during his imprisonment. These efforts included the "hotline" mechanism provided by the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), along with other diplomatic tools used by the central government.

The statement concluded by reiterating the Georgian government’s ongoing commitment to securing the release of all Georgian citizens still held in illegal detention in the occupied regions.