Killing of Georgian citizen by Russian occupying forces “result of grave legacy” left by UNM Gov’t – PM

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said the killing of Tamaz Ginturi, a Georgian citizen by Russian-controlled occupation this this week, was the “result of the grave legacy” left by the previous United National Movement, which his office accuses of being provoked by Russia to get involved in the 2008 war with the country, resulting in the occupation of the 20 percent of the Georgian territory. 

 

He claimed his Government had taken “all steps available” to react to the incident “immediately” 

 

“First of all, we informed our international partners, the EU monitoring mission, everyone. We launched a hotline. All the steps we could do were taken, a [IPRM] meeting was scheduled for the same evening and our authorities reacted immediately”, he said. 

 

Ginturi was killed on Monday in the village of Kirbali, central Gori municipality, following his attempt to open a church door blocked by the occupying forces last month. 

 

Another man accompanying him remains in illegal detention.