Georgian President: Russia's “century-old policy” of kidnapping, killing Georgian citizens “has no end”

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday said Russia's “century-old” policy of kidnapping and killing Georgian citizens in the country’s territory had “no end”, following the killing of a Georgian national by Russian occupying forces near a village adjacent to central Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on Monday.

Zourabichvili said Georgia had “centuries of experience of witnessing Russia's aggression”, and noted the Government's answer to the Russian policy was “Europe, peace, and peace in Europe”, adding Georgia did not “believe in another perspective”.

• Georgian President “profoundly outraged” after citizen’s death following illegal arrest attempt by occupation forces

She also sent her condolences to the family of Tamaz Ginturi, killed by the occupation forces in the occupied territory adjacent to the village of Kirbali in central Georgia’s Gori municipality.

The President also said her Orbeliani Palace residence would be open for citizens to collect signatures for a statement on the country’s future “remaining in Europe”.

Ginturi was killed in “firearm shots” as the occupation forces attempted to illegally detain him in the occupied territory, the State Security Service of Georgia said. Another citizen was illegally arrested by the forces during the same incident.