NEWS

EUMM: Border guards from Abkhaz side shot Georgian man on Tbilisi-controlled territory

European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) monitors patrol along the ABL in Georgia. Photo by EUMM Georgia

Agenda.ge, 21 May 2016 - 11:59, Tbilisi,Georgia

The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia has responded to the brutal murder of a Georgian man near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) separating de facto Abkhazia region from the rest of Georgia.

The EUMM released a statement confirming "the fatal shooting” of a local man on May 19 at the Khurcha-Nabakevi crossing point on the ABL.

"According to a preliminary assessment based on local witnesses, armed security actors from the Abkhaz side of the bridge crossed over to Tbilisi Administered Territory (TAT) and carried out the shooting,” the Mission’s statement read.

The EUMM said it had activated the hotline and was facilitating the exchange of information.

"We have been informed that an investigation is ongoing on the both sides of the Administrative Boundary Line,” the EUMM noted.

"The EUMM condemns this fatality. Our condolences and sympathies are with the family of the deceased.”

EUMM monitors were currently at the site monitoring the situation and collecting information about the incident and reporting back to EU institutions and EU member states.

"The Mission will remain on the ground where needed and for as long as needed,” said the statement.

The EUMM urged that "thorough investigations” be conducted as soon as possible and called on all sides to refrain from any actions that could potentially escalate the situation.

"The incident as such provides additional urgency for the swift resumption of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali,” EUMM added.

Giga Otkhozoria, a 31-year-old Georgian man was on Georgian-controlled territory when he was gunned down by Russia’s border guards stationed near the (ABL) with breakaway Abkhazia.

Video of the incident showed Otkhozoria retreating away from a confrontation when he was shot six times, including once in the face, by border guards despite being on territory under Georgian jurisdiction and control. The incident happened about 3pm on May 19.

The Russian side denied any involvement in the murder in a statement released by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

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