Tatunashvili murder case investigation to include charges of torture

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has decided to add the charge of torture to the investigation of Archil Tatunashvili murder case after the results of an autopsy have revealed new evidence.

The investigation has been carried out over charges of murder and the illegal deprivation of liberty so far. 

The results of the autopsy carried out by the Georgian National Forensics Bureau show that 25-year-old Archil Tatunashvili, who died in unclear circumstances in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) on February 23, sustained more than 100 injuries all over his body while alive.

"In fact, the corpse has traces of torture… The revelation of the new circumstances has created the basis for additional charges in the case. We are also intensively working with Tatunashvili’s family members,” Mezvrishvili said.

Tatunashvili’s body was returned to his family only 26 days after his death and all inner organs were removed from the body. The de-facto Tskhinvali administration refused to hand it over before an autopsy was made by a Russian forensics office which said Tatunashvili died of acute heart failure caused by myocardial ischemia on February 23. 

Tatunashvili and two other Georgian citizens were detained in the occupied Akhalgori area by Russia-controlled border guards on February 22. 

Georgia is drafting a lawsuit against Russia for Tatunashvili’s case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).