Otkhozoria–Tatunashvili List
The Otkhozoria–Tatunashvili List was compiled by the Georgian government to punish individuals responsible for crimes committed against Georgians in Abkhazia and South Ossetia since secessionist conflicts in the 1990s.
History[edit]
On 21 March, 2018, the Georgian Parliament adopted a resolution which obliged the Georgian government to compile a list of individuals implicated in crimes committed against Georgians in Abkhazia and South Ossetia since secessionist conflicts in these regions.[1] The idea of compiling a list came amid controversy surrounding the death of ethnic Georgian Archil Tatunashvili in South Ossetian prison. Tatunashvili was arrested by South Ossetian border patrol for illegally crossing the de facto Georgia–South Ossetia border.[a] In February 2018, Tatunashvili died in custody in South Ossetian prison. South Ossetian authorities claimed that Tatunashvili died because of injuries suffered after he fell down a staircase. However, the evidence emerged that Tatunashvili was subjected to torture by South Ossetian prison guards due to his ethnic background, which the Georgian side claimed was the reason of his death.[2][3] Previously, another ethnic Georgian Giga Otkhozoria was killed by Abkhazian border guard on the Georgian-controlled territory near the de facto Abkhazia–Georgia border. Frequency of such incidents prompted the Georgian authorities to take more active measures to effectively punish those responsible for such crimes against Georgians.[4] The resolution which called for the creation of list was initially proposed by the deputies from the opposition European Georgia party and then supported by the ruling Georgian Dream coalition. It called the government to do everything it could to ensure the execution of justice and to work with other countries and international organizations to implement international sanctions against individuals in the list, namely visa, proprietary and transactional limitations. The government adopted the list on June 26, 2018. The list includes 33 Abkhazian and South Ossetian individuals who are implicated in crimes such as murder, kidnapping, torture and inhumane treatment, grievous bodily injury, as well as in covering up these actions by other individuals. The list includes individuals who are already found guilty by the court for these crimes as well as those who are awaiting trial. The prime minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said that the list would be expanded in the future and no individual who committed crimes against Georgians would be left unpunished.[5]
On 9 August, 2018, the Lithuanian Government imposed restrictive measures on persons included in the Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili List.[6]
On 8 November, 2018, the Irish Parliament passed a resolution expressing support for the Tatunashvili–Otkhozoria List and calling on the Government of Ireland to take respective restrictive measures.[7]
On 17 December, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted Georgia Support Act, which provided sactions for individuals who violate human rights in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia. The bill prohibits entry into the United States and demands the freezing of assets of all individuals who were charged with violation of fundamental human rights in Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and for those who assisted in the crimes. Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that the bill responds to the Tatunashvili–Otkhozoria list adopted by the Georgian government.[8]
On 23 January, 2019, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted the resolution on the Magnitsky List, in which it also expressed support for the Tatunashvili–Otkhozoria list, a "sanctions list of perpetrators and persons responsible for the cover-up of grave human rights violations" in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.[9]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Other claims suggest that Tatunashvili was kidnapped from the Georgian-controlled territory by the South Ossetian border patrol.
Reactions[edit]
Adoption of the list was deemed as "provocation" and "destructive action" by South Ossetian and Abkhazian authorities. Chairman of South Ossetian Parliament Peter Gasiev said that South Ossetia would respond by compiling its own "black list". Abkhazian social organization Aruaa came up with its own "Khishba–Sigua list", which included several former high-ranking Georgian officials such as former President Mikheil Saakashvili, former prime minister Vano Merabishvili, former interior minister Bachana Akhalaia, former defence minister Davit Kezerashvili, and former military commanders Gia Karkarashvili and Tengiz Kitovani.[10]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Parliament adopts joint resolution on Tatunashvili case". Agenda.ge. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Georgian autopsy says Tatunashvili sustained over 100 injuries before dying". OC Media. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Gov't demands details on death of Georgian citizen in occupied Tskhinvali". Agenda.ge. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "5 years since brutal murder of Georgian citizen Giga Otkhozoria by occupation forces". Agenda.ge. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Georgia to Blacklist 33 Persons for Grave Human Rights Violations in Abkhazia, S.Ossetia". Civil.ge. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "One year has passed since the murder of Archil Tatunashvili". Agenda.ge. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Ireland adopts resolution on Georgia's territorial integrity and EU integration". Agenda.ge. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "US Congress passes historic bill, sanctioning individuals who violate human rights in Georgian occupied regions". Agenda.ge. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili List In PACE Resolution". Civil Georgia. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ "Veterans from Occupied Abkhazia Create List of 'Criminal Georgians'". Messenger. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
