De facto Tskhinvali releases video depicting killed Georgian citizen trying to open church’s door blocked by occupiers

The de facto authorities in Georgia’s currently Russian-controlled Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on Tuesday released a video depicting Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen killed by Russian-controlled occupation forces this week, and Levan Dotiashvili, kidnapped by them, trying to open the church’s door in their Kirbali village, which was blocked by Russian-controlled occupation forces last month. 

In the video, which was reportedly recorded by Ginturi before the occupation forces shot him dead, showing the participant of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war with the rank of major, blessing the church and cursing those blocking its door. 

The video does not show the appearance of so-called border guards, and stops after Dotiashvili, who is now in illegal detention in Tskhinvali prison, manages to open the church’s door. 

The de facto authorities claim the two were under the influence of alcohol and resisted the occupation forces, with Ginturi’s relatives saying he had been shot twice in the back and his car was also damaged. 

Ginturi’s brother added the man was “being wanted” for revenge for his engagement in the Russian-Georgian conflict, which led to the occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions comprising 20 percent of the country’s territory. 

The Georgian Government has urged the international community to give “due assessments” to the fact and exercise further pressure on Russia to withdraw its troops. The opposition, however, accused the Government of pursuing “capitulant” policies with Moscow. 

Along with the occupation, Russia has been engaged with the creeping occupation of Georgian lands since 2013.