11 days since the death of Archil Tatunashvili - what have we learned?
Tweet 
Share
Eleven days have passed since the death of Georgian citizen, 35-year-old soldier Archil Tatunashvili, in unclear circumstances in the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
The body has not been handed over to the Tatunashvili family for burial and two other Georgian citizens Levan Kutashvili and Ioseb Pavliashvili, detained with Tatunashvili on February 22, still remain in the occupied region.
Based on the information received in the last few days and hours, it is reasonable to state that our efforts will bear fruit and we will be able our compatriot to rest in the nearest future,” the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has stated.
The Patriarchate of Georgia has announced that through the request of the Georgian Patriarch Ilia II Russian Patriarch Kirill has become involved in the body-transfer process.
People gathered at the Freedom Square in the centre of Tbilisi today to condemn death of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili. Photo by Netgazeti.
His holiness Kirill stated that at the request of His Holiness Ilia II, the former has become involved in the transfer of Archil's body to the family and will try to achieve this anime in the shortest possible time,” the Georgian Patriarchate wrote.
The Public Defender of Georgia has met with the family of Archil Tatunashvili in the village of Tsilkani, in east Georgia.
We have sent information to all international organizations and we are trying to accelerate the transfer of the body. This is the primary goal of the family and the state of things at this stage.
It is difficult to specify exactly how long this process will last. Getting information from the occupied region is complicated,” Lomjaria told the media after the meeting.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed readiness to take part in the transfer of Tatunashvili's body to Georgia-controlled territory.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is a neutral, impartial and independent organization, is following this issue. We have a dialogue with relevant agencies and we are ready to take part in the transfer of Tatunashvili's body," Diana Japaridze from the Red Cross stated.
Public Defender met with the family of the deceased soldier. Photo from the Public Defender's press office.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia Niels Scott stated that the most important thing is for Tatunashvili's body to be immediately handed over to the family.
The United Nations is very concerned about Tatunashvili's case and we demand a transparent investigation that will provide information to all parties concerned, but of course, first of all, it is crucial that the body be immediately handed over to the family and the other two people to be released," said Niels Scott.
The US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly stated today that it was "unclear to him” why the body has not been handed over yet.
He said that the US Government fully supported the Georgian authorities in its actions in the case.
- Tatunashvili and two other Georgian citizens were detained by occupation forces on February 22 in Akhalgori area, on territory currently controlled by Russians, allegedly for Tatunashvili’s participation in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
- 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. Tskhinvali refuses to hand over the body until Russian experts provide the outcome of an autopsy.
- Two others detained with Tatunashvili have been released from detention but they cannot leave the occupied territory due to the fact that their identification documents have been confiscated.
Georgia’s prime minister has said the body of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili, who died in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali, will be buried on home soil. In a statement released Sunday, Giorgi Kvirikashvili said it was a tragedy that the family could not mourn the loss of their loved one.
The Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze has stated at a conference in Moldova that Russia’s open or silence consent to violation of human rights leads to deaths of Georgian citizens in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) of Georgia.
Georgian students living in London have gathered in front of the Russian Embassy to condemn the death of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili in Georgia’s Russian occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The Government of Georgia has demanded "clear and comprehensive information” on the death of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili in the country’s occupied Tskhinvali region today.
Amnesty International has issued a statement concerning the death of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili in Georgia’s Russian occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). Twelve days have passed since the death of Tatunashvili, aged 35, in unclear circumstances in the occupied Tskhinvali region.
The co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions have expressed their concern over the death of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili under unclear circumstances in Georgia’s Russian occupied region of Tskhinvali.
Thirteen days after Tatunashvili’s death, his body has not been handed over to his family for burial and two other Georgian citizens Levan Kutashvili and Ioseb Pavliashvili, detained with Tatunashvili on February 22, still remain in the occupied region.
The body of the 35-year-old Georgian soldier, Archil Tatunashvili, who died in unclear circumstances in the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on February 23, has been handed over to representatives of the government of Georgia several minutes ago, 26 days after his death.
Georgian soldier Archil Tatunashvili, who was brutally murdered by occupying forces in the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on February 20, 2018, would have turned 37 today.