Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Thursday lauded the European Parliament resolution, which has “strongly condemned” the killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi by Russian-controlled occlusion forces in central Georgia earlier this month. 

In her social media post, the President said “once again, Europe shows unwavering support for Georgia. Grateful to the European Parliament for its decisive resolution on Tamaz Ginturi's killing, underscoring the international community's role in confronting challenges faced by Georgian citizens under continuous Russian occupation”. 

The resolution was voted on in EP on Thursday and it also demanded a thorough investigation of the case, punishment of the perpetrators and the release of the citizens held captive by the occupying forces. In the document, MEPs reaffirmed their support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.

Ginturi, 58, was fatally wounded by Russian-controlled occupation forces near the village of Kirbali, Gori municipality, on November 6, while 33-year-old Levan Dotiashvili was kidnapped after their attempt to open a door of their village church, which was blocked by occupiers the previous month. Dotiashvili was released on November 9.

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs is investigating the case for premeditated murder and kidnapping. 

Ginturi’s brother claimed he had identified the perpetrator, who he said was a so-called Russian border guard, citing a “reliable source”. 

He stressed that his brother participated in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war and was targeted by the occupation forces and the de facto authorities. 

Russia recognized the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as independent states after the 2008 war. Only Venezuela, Nikaragua, Nauru and Syria have joined Moscow’s stance so far, while the rest of the international community call on Russia to act in line with the August 2008 ceasefire agreement brokered by the EU and withdraw its troops from Georgian lands.