Georgian PM: Tatunashvili is a hero, his murderers must face the law
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"I think the more time that passes, the more everyone will realize what a great hero Archil Tatunashvili is”, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said at today’s government session.
Georgian soldier Archil Tatunashvili, who died in unclear circumstances in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region a month ago, was laid to rest with the military honours last Saturday.
It is important to say that the people who have tortured the Georgian warrior, are the enemies of Georgian-Ossetian reconciliation and Georgia’s unification”, PM Kvirikashvili said.
He said despite the pain, Georgia will continue its reconciliation policy.
President Giorgi Margvelashvili posthumously awarded Tatunashvili the Order of Honour. Photo by the President's press office
According to Kvirikashvili, the Georgian government will be firm against those people who have committed crimes and will use all avenues, including international institutions and platforms, to punish the offenders.
Kvirikashvili said it is clearly written in various resolutions that the country that carries out factual control over the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) is responsible for human rights violations there.
Of course, what happened [with Tatunashvili] is murder, a huge tragedy, but there are certain people who are responsible for that”, Kvirikashvili said.
He said the pain should strengthen the Georgian people and consequent steps should be taken towards the reconciliation of Georgians, Abkhazians and Ossetians and the unification of the country.
PM Kvirikashvili (R) said Russia will never avoid responsibility for what has happened. Photo by the PM's press office
Tatunashvili and two other Georgian citizens were detained in the occupied Akhalgori area by Russia-controlled border guards on February 22, while Tatunashvili was reported dead the next day.
Tatunashvili’s body was only returned to his family 26 days after his death as de-facto Tskhinvali administration refused to hand over the body to his family until a "comprehensive autopsy".
According to the results of the Russian autopsy, Tatunashvili died of acute heart failure caused by myocardial ischemia. However, a Georgian investigation is now underway to reveal the exact reason behind death, as the man had some injuries on his hands and face.
Georgian soldier Archil Tatunashvili, who died in unclear circumstances in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region a month ago, has been laid to rest with the military honours today. President Giorgi Margvelashvili posthumously awarded Tatunashvili the Order of Honour.
The parliament of Georgia has adopted a joint resolution on the case of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili, who was reported dead in unclear circumstances in occupied Tskhinvali on 23 February. The resolution condemns Russia’s actions in the occupied territories of Georgia, makes a series of demands on Russia and envisages the creation of a sanctions list of individuals who have violated the rights of Georgian citizens in the occupied regions of Georgia.
Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili, who died in unclear circumstances in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on February 23, will be buried in his village cemetery on Saturday.
Tatunashvili’s body was finally returned to his family 26 days after his death as the de-facto Tskhinvali administration had refused to hand it over before an autopsy.
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.
The Council of Europe has supported the Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili list, which was drafted by the Georgian government last year to provide sanctions against individuals who have violated human rights in the two occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) sine 1991 until the present day.
The State Security Service of Georgia reports that a young Georgian man, Irakli Kvaratskhelia, has reportedly committed suicide in the Gali district, in Georgia's Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia. Kvaratskhelia, born in 1990, had been allegedly detained by de-facto authorities.