Georgian officials, Public Defender condemn killing of Georgian citizen, illegal detention of another by occupation forces
Russian-controlled occupation forces on Monday killed one Georgian citizen and illegally detained another in central Georgia’s Gori municipality. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Georgian officials and the Public Defender’s Office on Monday reacted to the killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi by the Russian-controlled occupation forces in central Georgia, and illegal detention of the country’s national Levan Dotiashvili, in an incident earlier during the day, and called for “immediate punishment” of offenders and the release of the detainee.
Extending his condolences to the family of Ginturi, who was killed following firearm shots during an attempt of his illegal arrest by the occupation forces near the village of Kirbali of the central Georgian municipality of Gori, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili called on the de facto authorities of the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region to “immediately release” Dotiashvili and meet the conditions of the 2008 ceasefire agreement between Russia and Georgia, which requires the former to withdraw its troops from the occupied regions.
I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of the Georgian citizen killed by Russian occupation forces during his illegal detention. I call on the occupation forces to immediately release another Georgian citizen who was illegally detained and fulfill the…
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) November 6, 2023
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the party, claimed the authorities were “doing their utmost” to ensure the punishment of the offenders and the release of the illegally detained citizen.
They also highlighted the “gravest legacy” of the occupation following the 2008 war and condemned the “treacherous policy” of the previous United National Movement in its handling of the conflict.
Ombudsman calls on the authorities of Georgia, as well as international human rights and monitoring organizations, to make maximum efforts to ensure effective investigation of the killing of Georgian Citizen, and to hold the Russian Federation responsible. https://t.co/J3i1bD6GuY pic.twitter.com/Uz5vv3Z4IA
— Ombudsman of Georgia (@Ombudsman_Geo) November 6, 2023
The de facto Tskhinvali authorities have claimed Ginturi and Dotiashvili had “refused to obey” the so-called border guards adjacent to the administrative line separating the region from the rest of Georgia, and were “under the influence of alcohol”.
In its statement, the Georgian Public Defender’s Office has called on the Georgian Government, international human rights and monitoring organisations to make “maximum efforts to ensure effective investigation” of the incident and punish those involved in it.
It further noted the latest incident was the consequence of the ”impunity” for the offenders in the killings of four Georgian citizens - Davit Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria, Archil Tatunashvili and Irakli Kvaratskhelia - by occupation forces over the previous years, and stressed Russia carried responsibility in all cases.