Georgian Citizen's Death in Occupied Tskhinvali Echoed by Int’l Community

International organizations, European Union structures and Ministries and officials from Georgia’s friendly states have expressed their concern over the death of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili, who died in the occupied region of Georgia - South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) on February 23, the following day after he was kidnapped with two of his friends by the occupant forces.

Ossetian media reported that Tatunashvili, 35, was detained in Akhalgori for "cooperating with Georgian law enforcers and participating in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.”

The de facto leadership of Tskhinvali says the man died of heart failure, while the media says he was beaten during the interrogation, adding Tatunashvili allegedly died from the injuries.

Tskhinvali leadership refuses to hand over the body, as they are waiting for Russian experts to carry out forensic tests.

We are concerned about the death in detention of #Georgia citizen Archil Tatunashvili on 22 Feb. in Tskhinvali. We call for a credible & transparent investigation into the facts surrounding his death & stand ready to support the process.

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) February 26, 2018

#Georgia #SouthOssetia We share #EU @EEAS spokesperson's grave concerns about latest developments in South Ossetia and the tragic death of a Georgian citizen, and we join her call for additional measures to ensure transparency. @MFAgovge https://t.co/q5byQhrqG6 https://t.co/tlOWVx9Qx2

— Andreas Peschke (@GERonOstpolitik) February 26, 2018

OSCE PA’s Sanchez Amor statement on death of Archil #Tatunashvili: https://t.co/BLg7V9gFFC @NachoSAmor pic.twitter.com/eUudt0ksZo

— OSCE PA (@oscepa) February 26, 2018

.@statedeptspox: US is concerned by the death of Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili during his Feb. 22 arrest & detention in the Russian-occupied Georgian territory of South Ossetia. US is also concerned by the arrest of Georgian citizens Levan Kutashvili & Ioseb Pavliashvili. pic.twitter.com/CcWDXFJLpc

— Department of State (@StateDept) February 27, 2018

Check Statement by the #UK on the death of #Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili https://t.co/oI3L8tCkFH @UKinGeorgia pic.twitter.com/RoWiD4GXqP

— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) February 27, 2018

Following the death of Archil Tatunashvili, Congress President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström declared: “I would like to join with the entire international community in expressing my outrage and sorrow at this tragic event.”

“A transparent investigation is urgently needed to establish the circumstances behind his death and the responsibility for this act” she said, adding that the two people detained with Mr Tatunashvili should immediately be released and placed under the authority of the legitimate Government in Tbilisi.

The Congress President underlined the Congress’ long-standing support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and expressed her sincere condolences to the family of Mr Tatunashvili.

Furthermore, the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions have also commented on Tatunashvili's death. 

Check Statement by the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussion regarding Archil Tatunashvili's death and detention of two other #Georgian citizens https://t.co/XZuo6ae8vj pic.twitter.com/HATAzI6Aw5

— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) February 27, 2018

The co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Georgia, Kerstin Lundgren (Sweden, ALDE) and Titus Corlatean (Romania, SOC), have expressed their deep concern at, and condemned, the death of a Georgian citizen while being detained by the de facto authorities in Tskhinvali.

“We call upon the separatist authorities, as well as the authorities of the Russian Federation, as the de facto power in control, to conduct a full and transparent investigation into the death of Archil Tatunashvili, and to prosecute those responsible. In addition, we call for the immediate release, and transfer to Tbilisi-administered territory, of the two other Georgian citizens that were detained together with Mr Tatunashvili,” the two co-rapporteurs said.

They also reaffirmed their strong support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and the inviolability of its international borders.

Furthermore, the Latvian and Estonian Foreign Ministries have also expressed their concern regarding the issue.

.@Latvian_MFA raises concerns about #humanrights violations in the regions of #Abkhazia and #SouthOssetia in #Georgia and expresses condolences over the death of a Georgian citizen in South Ossetia, #Georgia #Tatunashvili @tjanjalia @MFAgovge

— Latvian MFA (@Latvian_MFA) February 27, 2018

Deeply concerned by the latest developments in the breakaway region South Ossetia. Our sincere condolences to Mr Tatunashvili's family. EU is ready to support ongoing investigations and we continue to stand for peace building & conflict resolution in Georgia. https://t.co/j3NrugbwVK

— Estonian MFA (@MFAestonia) February 27, 2018

By Thea Morrison

Related stories:

EU Monitoring Mission Issues Statement on Death of Georgian in Tskhinvali

Georgian President Reacts to Death of Georgian in South Ossetia