24 March 2010, 23:00
US hand over three Guantanamo prisoners to Georgia
As reported by the US Department of Justice, the States have delivered three former inmates of the prison located in the Guantanamo military base. The prisoners whose names are not disclosed were sent to Georgia yesterday, on March 23. Some of Georgian politicians and experts were positive towards this delivery.
For the first time, the idea of moving Guantanamo inmates to Georgian prisons was presented last August. Then, military expert Irakliy Sesiashvili expressed fear that transfer of a part of Cuba-based Guantanamo prisoners to Georgia, may increase the terror danger in this country.
The Guantanamo inmates received by Georgia are Middle East natives, Shota Utiashvili, spokesman of the MIA of Georgia, said; however, he did not name them.
The former inmates will be at large, live as ordinary citizens and have a chance to communicate with their families, Mr Utiashvili said; while the AP reports that they will not be able to leave the territory of Georgia.
Since 2002, the USA has transferred more than 580 Guantanamo prisoners to 38 countries. Now, 183 suspects of terrorism are still kept in Cuba, the "GZT.RU" writes.
The US Department of Justice has expressed gratitude to Georgia for the efforts to help the USA in closing the Guantanamo prison and noted that consultations of the two countries around these three inmates would go on, the "Caucasus Online" reports.
The "Rosbalt" reports with reference to those Georgian politicians and experts who treated the prisoners' transfer positively that it is an indication of really close partnership relations between Georgia and the USA.