Missing OSCE Mission member thought to have been detained in Italy
VIENNA, 2 July 2006 - The Italian authorities have confirmed that police in Italy have detained a Georgian national on suspicion of drug smuggling.
The Italian authorities said the man's documents identified him as Mr Zurab Lomashvili, a Georgian national seconded to the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje. The Italian authorities are expected to confirm the man's identity in due course.
Mr Lomashvili had taken time off over the long weekend of June 23-26. He failed to return to work as expected. He was driving an OSCE car when he left the Mission.
Mission officials had contacted Mr Lomashvili's family and the OSCE had asked relevant authorities for help in tracing him.
The OSCE will co-operate fully with the Italian authorities in their investigation.