CoE Congress concerned by death of Georgian citizen in occupied Tskhinvali

The Council of Europe (CoE) Congress President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström shared her concern over the death of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili in the Russian occupied region of Georgia – Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

Congress President Mosler-Törnström said she joins the entire international community in expressing her outrage and sorrow at this tragic event.

A transparent investigation is urgently needed to establish the circumstances behind his death and the responsibility for this act”, she said.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 47 member states.

Underlining the Congress’ long-standing support for Georgia’s territorial integrity, Mosler-Törnström also expressed her sincere condolences to the family of Tatunashvili.

She further added that the two people detained with Tatunashvili should immediately be released and placed under the authority of the legitimate government in Tbilisi.

• Tatunashvili and two other Georgian citizens were detained by occupation forces on February 22 in the Akhalgori area, on territory currently controlled by Russians.
• Tskhinvali media announced the death of Tatunashvili on February 23, and stated that the latter had an incident with detention facility staff and fell down a flight of stairs. However, the de facto security service of Tskhinvali claims the man died due to heart failure.
• The Government of Georgia has demanded "clear and comprehensive information” on the death of Tatunashvili in the country’s occupied Tskhinvali.
• The European Union, United States and the rest of the international community continue to condemn the death of Georgian citizen  in unclear circumstances in the occupied Tskhinvali region.
• The Tskhinvali leadership refuses to hand over the body as they are waiting for Russian experts to carry out forensic expertise.
• Two others detained with Tatunashvili have been released but they cannot leave the occupied territory due to the fact that their identification documents have been confiscated.