Tbilisi Rejects Occupied Tskhivali's Accusations against Deceased Georgian
In response to the statement released by Georgia’s occupied region of South Ossetia (Tskhinvali), Georgian Minister of Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, rejected all the accusations against Archil Tatunashvili, a Georgian man who was kidnapped by the occupant forces on February 22 and who later died in custody.
“All the so-called accusations against Archil Tatunashvili are false,” the Minister said, adding the information, released by the de facto Tskhinvali, that Tatunashvili killed civilians in 2008 August war, is also false.
“If certain forces have the interest to hinder the policy of reconciliation and stability, it cannot and will not happen. This does not mean that we are going to reconcile with any kind of human rights violations, especially with deprivation of human life,” Tsikhelashvili stressed.
The De facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs of breakaway South Ossetia published a statement about the death of Archil Tatunashvili on March 1, saying he was intercepted “carrying out intelligence-sabotage activities and in the murder of civilians in August 2008.”
The so-called Ministry went on to say that Tatunashvili was detained in Leningori (Akhalgori) on February 22, 2018, by breakaway South Ossetian “law enforcers.” The statement reads that during his transfer to a detention cell, Tatunashvili fought back and sustained injuries, was knocked down and rolled down the stairs.
Before that, the puppet regime spread information that the Georgian man died of “heart failure.”
The office of Georgia’s Public Defender stated they have information that Tatunashvili died before he was taken to the hospital, adding that he seemed to have been beaten, according to his injuries.
De facto Tskhinvali so far refuses to hand over the body to official Tbilisi, saying that they are waiting experts from Russia to carry out an further tests.
Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, arrived in Tsilkani, Tatunashvilis home village late on Thursday to offer his condolences to the family of the deceased man.
“I want you to know that the Government of Georgia is doing its best, and uses every available tool at its disposal to ensure the body is returned to the family as soon as possible. One thing is clear; it is a huge tragedy and a very treacherous act against Georgians, Abkhazians, and Ossetians, one designed to undermine the steps we are taking. The Government will continue its consistent policy implemented so far, which will bring about the country's unification. Nothing can stand in its way, and those responsible will surely be brought to justice. I give you my word,” Kvirikashvili stated.
By Thea Morrison