Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia filed charges in absentia against so-called Law enforcement officers of Occupied Tskhinvali region, David Gurtsiev and Alik Taboev on the basis of the evidence obtained in the conducted investigation on the criminal case of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the restraint of liberty of Archil Tatunashvili, L.K. and I.P. by preliminary agreement of group and providing help for torturing Archil Tatunashvili.

The Prosecutor’s Office released a statement in that regard:

“The conducted investigation determined that citizen of Georgia Archil Tatunashvili periodically went to the occupied Akhalgori district where he was engaged in the small entrepreneurial activity. On 20 February 2018, after the leaving of the above-mentioned territory, it became known for so-called Law enforcement officers of Occupied Tskhinvali region that Archil Tatunashvili served in the Georgian Armed Forces in August 2008, so they decided to punish and torture him.

On 22 February 2018, citizens of Georgia Archil Tatunashvili, I.P., and L.K. entered the occupied territory of Akhalgori from the controlled territory by the Georgian government where they transported the fruit-vegetables by the car owned by Archil Tatunashvili and which was driven by L.K. The above-mentioned circumstance became known to the so-called Law enforcement officers of Occupied Tskhinvali region, who decided to illegally deprive Archil Tatunashvili of liberty, to bring him to the favorable location and torture him.

In order to accomplish the goal, on 22 February 2018, near the village Mosabruni in Akhalgori district, the Deputy Prosecutor of the so called Prosecutor’s Office of Akhalgori David Gurtsiev and the head of division of the so called KGB service Alik Taboev, and other employees of  so called Law enforcement officers of Occupied Tskhinvali region, in group, illegally deprived them of liberty and at first they transferred Archil Tatunashvili, and later- I.P. and L.K. to the so called Security Service Building, where Archil Tatunashvili was handcuffed and handed over to so-called Law enforcement armed officers of Occupied Tskhinvali region in order to torture him, who brought him to Tskhinvali.

Before transferring Archil Tatunashvili to Tskhinvali, I.P. and L.K. were temporarily released, though later they were deprived of liberty again.

In the building of the so call Prosecutor Office the Law enforcement officers of Occupied Tskhinvali region, tortured Archil Tatunashvili for participation in the August war in 2008, they inflicted to him more than 100 different types of injuries. Later Archil Tatunashvili passed away.

Since the defendants Davit Gurtsiev and Alik Taboev are avoiding the appearance in law enforcement bodies, the charges were filed in absentia under the subparagraphs “a” and “c” of the 3rd paragraph of Criminal Code of Georgia (illegal deprivation of liberty – by group with preliminary agreement, against two or more persons) and the subparagraphs “e” and “g” of the paragraph 2nd of Article 25-144¹ of Criminal Code of Georgia (assisting in torture, committed by group, against detainees or otherwise restricted persons).

The Prosecutor’s Office will apply to the Court within the time prescribed by law demanding the use of imprisonment as a preventive measure against the defendants.

The investigation on the criminal case continues for the purpose of determining other persons guilty. The investigation is conducted by MIA. The filed charges against David Gurtsiev and Alik Taboev provide the type and the length of the sentence for a term of 9 to 15 years of imprisonment.”