Krtsanisi incident: Dead man’s father receives answers about fatal shooting

The father of 23-year-old Giga Shengelia, who was shot dead after alleged trying to break in to Krtsanisi military centre, is coming to terms with his son's death after visiting the incident site today.

Roman Shengelia met with Defence Ministry Staff at the national military training centre this afternoon. Afterwards he said the Defence Ministry had answered his three main questions regarding his son's death.

R. Shengelia made the statement after spending one hour at the scene where his son was shot three days ago.

He was invited there by the Ministry of Defence after he questioned why his son died, and that he wished to involve independent experts in the investigation. 

Today R. Shengelia’s questions were answered by Deputy Minister of Defence and other representatives of the Ministry. Also present were American military instructors. 

The father did not specify which questions he had but noted his main three questions had been answered.

R Shengelia previously said his son was shot outside of the military centre complex but this afternoon he said his son had been shot inside the centre territory. His body was found outside the base, as he fled trying to escape. 

R. Shengelia did not confirm rumours that his son used to visit the military base before the fatal incident and said everything he now believed was based on information provided by his late son’s friends. 

R. Shengelia said he would not make any further comment until the investigation was complete. He was now unsure whether to involve independent experts in the investigation process. 

Attempted break-in

Three people reportedly tried to break in to the Krtsanisi National Training Centre at the Krtsanisi settlement, a short distance outside Georgia’s capital Tbilisi about 3.30am on October 23, Georgia’s Defence Ministry said.

Krtsanisi centre is one of the most important military facilities in the country and the place where the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre is located.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili speaks about the Krtsanisi incident. Photo by Prime Minister's press office. 

The incident claimed the life of G. Shengelia, who allegedly was shot as he attempted to flee the scene after provoking the security guard. 

Georgia's Defence Ministry said the attackers were aggressive, did not obey a legal request from a security guard and subsequently, the guard fired in their direction. The guard's actions were fully in line with regulations, said the Ministry.

Initially the dead man's family said they did not  believe the Ministry’s version of events and they demanded a transparent investigation to be conducted.

Yesterday the Ministry said it was ready to let an alternative examination be carried out, and to let family members of the killed man visit the centre, check the site of the incident and learn what exactly happened and how police reacted.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili commented the incident today. He stressed the Government was ready to let any alternative investigation begin to determine the true facts of the case. 

The PM stressed the guard who shot acted in "full line of the law”, as such military centres operated within very strict regulations and control. 

Kvirikashvili also offered his condolences to Shengelia’s family.