Moscow Avenue to Become Tatunashvili Street?

Georgian citizens have started a petition, asking the City Hall of Tbilisi to rename Moscow Avenue in the Samgori District. They are calling for it to be named after Archil Tatunashvili, a Georgian citizen who died in custody in Georgia’s Russian-backed occupied Tskhinvali (“South Ossetia”) detention facility in unclear circumstances on February 23, the second day after he was kidnapped.

“Archil Tatunashvili Street will be one of the most beautiful places in the capital; a symbol of Georgia leaving Russian influence behind,” the author of the petition, Lado Gogoladze, said.

The petition already has around 7000 signatories. At least 10,000 signatures are necessary to submit the issue to the Parliament of Georgia for further discussion.

Archil Tatunashvili, 35, was kidnapped by occupant forces from Akhalgori and the following day, the puppet regime stated he died of “heart failure.” His body was finally returned to Georgia after 21 days.

Georgian media and NGOs claim Tatunashvili has multiple injuries on every part of his body, claiming it is obvious the man was tortured and killed.

Tatunashvili’s funeral will take place on Sunday, at Mukhatgverdi Brothers Cemetery.

By Thea Morrison