Three Guantanamo detainees sent to Georgia

Three detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba were transfered "to custody and control" of Georgia, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

"Earlier today, three detainees, whose identities are being withheld for security and privacy reasons, were transferred to Georgia," it said in a press release on March 23.

"The United States is grateful to Georgia for its willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility."

The U.S. Department of Justice also said that the transfer of the three detainees was coordinated with the Georgia to ensure that it "took place under appropriate security measures and consultations regarding these individuals will continue."

Daniel Fried, who is U.S. Department of State’s special envoy for Guantanamo detention camp, visited Georgia in early August, 2009. Details of the visit were not revealed, but it triggered speculation about possible talks on transfer of detainees to Georgia. Later in August, 2009 the Washington Post reported that Georgia was among those countries with which the U.S. held “positive talks” on resettling of some of those Guantanamo detainees, who have been cleared for release.

AFP reported quoting head of information and analytical department at the Georgian Interior Ministry, Shota Utiashvili, that three former Guantanamo detainees, described as "from Middle Eastern countries", would live in Georgia "like normal citizens", but would not have the right to leave the country.

Like in other similar cases, the three persons were cleared for release by the U.S interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force after conducting "a comprehensive review of these cases," the Department of Justice said..

"As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, the detainees were approved for transfer by unanimous consent among all the agencies involved in the Task Force," it said.


/Civil.ge/