Father and son wounded near occupation line by Abkhaz police
The Dzandzavas were bringing two boxes of excise-free, smuggled cigarettes from the Gali district of Russia-occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia when Abkhaz police confiscated them. Photo: IPN.
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Father and son Papuna and Badri Dzandzava were wounded in the village of Akhalabastumani, Zugdidi, near the occupation line and it is reported that the shot was fired by the officers of the police department of the 'Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia'.
The Dzandzavas were bringing two boxes of excise-free, smuggled cigarettes from the Gali district of Russia-occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia when Abkhaz police confiscated them.
The wife of Badri Dzandzava, Khatuna Okujava, said that they have a big family and ‘no one helps us’ and her son and husband took the risk to help the family survive.
There is a difference between a criminal and a smuggler. Well, even if they were smugglers, why did they treat them like criminals? They had two boxes of cigarettes... We have many children, no one helps us. My son was bringing two boxes, to survive. The action of the police was illegal. They acted without warning," said the mother of the wounded, Khatuna Okujava.
She said that ‘Abkhaz police are aggressive’ and that Papuna and Badri Dzandzava were thrown directly to the ground and shot in the back.
The wounded say they did not resist law enforcement and the shot was fired after their arrest.
The wounded were taken to Zugdidi Referral Hospital.
"The condition of both of the wounded is stable at this stage, we are providing necessary examinations and treatment", the hospital said.
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