Russia Sends Letter to Tatunashvili's Family
The family of Archil Tatunashvili, 35, a Georgian who died in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia after being brutally tortured on February 23, received a letter from the Prosecutor’s Office of Russia.
The letter says that “South Ossetia is an independent state and Russia does not interfere in their activities.”
Official Tbilisi has many times raised Tatunashvili’s issue at the meetings held within international formats, holding Russia responsible for human rights violations in Georgia’s occupied regions, as it is implementing its control in both regions.
However, Russia claims South Ossetia is “independent” and that it it has nothing to do with developments there.
Ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party MP, Dimitry Khundadze, says Russia’s step is “cynical”.
“This is not the first cynical step made by the Russian Federation and I think it will not be the last,” Khundadze stated.
Vice-Speaker of Parliament Gia Volsky says justice can be restored with the help of the international justice system and the Strasburg Court of Human Rights.
“Everyone knows that Russia exercises control in Georgia’s breakaway regions,” Volsky added.
The opposition also condemns Russia’s actions, saying the recently adopted Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili list, containing 33 persons convicted or charged with grave crimes committed against the citizens of Georgia in the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions since the 1990s, needs to be enlarged.
“In such conditions, the actions of our government are vital. We believe that Russians, who promote human rights violations at Georgia’s occupied regions, need to be added to Otkhozoria -Tatunashvili List,” Elene Khoshtaria from the United National Movement stated.
Archil Tatunashvili and two other Georgian men were detained by occupant forces on February 22 and taken to a breakaway Tskhinvali detention facility. The next day, the de facto law enforcers released information about Tatunashvili’s death. The puppet regime stated he died of heart failure but later said he resisted the guards and fell down the stairs and was taken to hospital, where he died.
De facto authorities of South Ossetia handed the body to the Georgian side only on March 20. After the autopsy, Tatunashvili was buried with military honor at Mukhatgverdi Brothers Cemetery near Tbilisi.
The forensic examination report released on June 5 in Tbilisi reads that deceased Georgian citizen was likely tortured as he had more than 100 various injuries inflicted on his body before death.
By Thea Morrison
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