PM Kvirikashvili: Killing of Georgian man near Abkhazia is “disgusting”, a “huge tragedy”

Georgia’s two highest officials have spoken out about the killing of a Georgian man near the de facto Abkhazia; with one saying his death was "merciless” and the other saying it was unacceptable barbed wire fences were installed on Georgian territory.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said the unprovoked killing of 31-year-old Giga Otkhozoria was "disgusting” and a "huge tragedy.” 

Otkhozoria was on Georgian territory when he was gunned down by Russia’s border guards stationed near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with breakaway Abkhazia.

The PM said the "merciless” killing of Otkhozoria, who was shot six times by armed guards, aimed to disturb the reconciliation process between Georgia and the population living in its two de facto regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

Kvirikashvili said Georgia achieved success regarding inter-community relations despite the lack of progress to restore political relations.

We are taking steps to restore trust between people. I believe those who committed this horrible crime will be very strictly punished. We will involve all our foreign partners in the issue to ensure the offenders are adequate punished,” Kvirikashvili said. 

Meanwhile Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili said he would raise the issue of this tragic murder at this month’s United Nations (UN) forum dedicated to human rights and humanitarian issues. 

Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili said Giga Otkhozoria was one more victim of Russia’s occupation of Georgia. Photo by the President’s webpage. 

The President made this vow while speaking with Georgian students who were at the Presidential Palace in capital Tbilisi this afternoon for a Q&A session with the leader.

This murder in Khurcha village means one more man has become a victim of occupation. This is the reality we live in and we will definitely overcome this reality through our consecutive and reasonable actions,” Margvelashvili told the students. 

He stressed it was "very painful” when barbed wire fences were stretched on your own soil but acting with emotions would do no good for the country.  Instead, he said Georgia must follow its current strategy, which was agreed with allies, as this would end with greater results than any action that stems from emotions. 

We will develop Georgia and make it more European, more Euro-Atlantic and will follow a policy of strategic patience with Russia. The strategy envisages showing our rival that a confrontation is not beneficial for them and that this rivalry will bring no positive results for their interests.”

The dialogue will lead us to the restoration of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a hard walk but it has no alternative,” Margvelashvili said. 

Georgia’s State Security Service said four of Russia’s border guards shot Otkhozoria while he was on Georgian-controlled territory.

Earlier this afternoon Russia released a statement that denied its border guards participated in the murder.