Georgia marks birthday of national hero Tatunashvili who was tortured, killed by occupiers

Today Georgia marks the birthday of national hero Archil Tatunashvili, a former soldier, who was tortured and killed by the Russian-controlled occupation forces back in 2018 in the country’s occupied Tskhinvali region. 

Tatunashvili would have turned 38 today. 

The body of 35-year-old Tatunashvili was handed over to Tbilisi 26 days after his death with more than 100 injuries. 

De facto Tskhinvali refused to provide internal organs of Tatunashvili to help the Georgian government clarify the exact cause of his death.  

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated earlier today that Tatunashvili, for his devotion to resisting the occupation, is a ‘brilliant example’ for the new generation.

He said that the individuals who murdered Tatunashvili ‘will be held accountable and our government is doing its best for this.’ 

• Tatunashvili laid to rest, posthumously awarded Order of Honour

In September 2018, Interpol issued a red notice for the two individuals, David Gurtsiev and Alik Tabuev, who were charged with the murder of Tatunashvili by the central Georgian government. 

• Court sentences 2 to lifetime imprisonment in high-profile Tatunashvili case
• Georgia drafts lawsuit against Russia for Tatunashvili’s case in European Court

 However, they have not been detained so far