PM calls on int’l community’s “appropriate response” to Georgian citizen’s death following incident with occupation forces

He said the incident “once again confirmed” the “difficult security environment” on the ground in the occupied territories, and noted “severe consequences” of the occupation. Photo: Government press office

Agenda.ge, 06 Nov 2023 - 21:44, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday called on the international community to make an “appropriate assessment and response” to the death of a Georgian citizen following an illegal arrest attempt by Russian-controlled occupation forces near a village adjacent to the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region in central Georgia.

Garibashvili said the “serious accident” had occurred in the occupied territory adjacent to the village of Kirbali in central Georgia’s Gori municipality, with a Georgian national shot dead while the occupation forces were making an attempt of their illegal detention.

He said the incident “once again confirmed” the “difficult security environment” on the ground in the occupied territories, and noted “severe consequences” of the occupation.

The PM sent his condolences to the family members and relatives of the deceased for the “gravest tragedy” and added the state “stood by them in these difficult moments”.

He also called on representatives of the de facto authorities in the occupied territories to “cooperate with all parties” to identify and punish the perpetrator.

The Government Head added “all relevant mechanisms” had been activated and international partners informed over the incident, with “active work” underway to ensure the release of the other citizen, involved in the incident and illegally detained by the occupation forces, “as soon as possible”.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs on Monday said it had launched an investigation on the death of the citizen and kidnapping of the other national of the country.