Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Russian and Georgian forces today exchanged prisoners in a gesture of goodwill despite continued tension over Russia's promised withdrawal.
The 15-minute handover took place on a highway 30 miles west of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, in the village of Igoeti where Russian tanks and armoured vehicles are dug in on the hillside and Georgian police in white pick-ups man a checkpoint.
Russian forces maintained positions deep inside Georgia proper, despite Moscow's announcement that it would begin withdrawing on Monday having driven Georgian forces from breakaway South Ossetia.
Two Russian helicopters landed in nearby fields, and a Reuters correspondent saw several uniformed, unarmed men escorted in single file by Russian soldiers to the centre of the road.
From the Georgian side, the correspondent saw at least one Russian pilot - shot down during Russian air strikes - carried out on a stretcher.
Georgia said it handed over five Russian servicemen, in exchange for 15 Georgians, including two civilians. Officials from both sides shook hands and signed a prisoner-exchange at a table set up in the road.
FIERCE FIGHTING
"The process went smoothly. It was mediated by the French ambassador," said Georgian National Security Council secretary Kakha Lomaia.
He said Tbilisi believed Russia was still holding two Georgian soldiers, captured during fighting for control of Tskhinvali, capital of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region.
"Everything went according to the agreement," said Major-General Vyacheslav Borisov, commander of Russian forces in the region. "We agreed on future exchanges if there are other prisoners."
Russia's partial occupation followed a brief war between Russian and Georgian forces in South Ossetia. Russia rolled tanks and troops over its southern border to repel an assault by Georgia to retake Tskhinvali from pro-Moscow separatists.
Georgia says around 200 Georgians, not including South Ossetians, died during the fighting that erupted on Aug 7. Russia says 1,600 people, mainly civilians, were killed. The figures have not been independently verified
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments