Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria says that videos which went viral on October 22, allegedly depicting the beating and abuse of inmates in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region, once again confirm the severe violations of human rights in the occupied territories.

According to her, the illegal detention of people at the occupation lines, inhumane treatment of detainees or prisoners have been one of the top problems regarding the occupied regions over the past several years.

Lomjaria said that Archil Tatunashvili, a 35-year-old Georgian citizen, died in the Tskhinvali detention facility last year “because of alleged torture and inhumane treatment”.

The videos reconfirm the vital need of international human rights organisations to enter and observe the situations in the Georgian occupied regions [of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali]. It is also noteworthy that in the case of torture any state has the right to charge, punish or extradite the individuals accused of torture if the individual is under the state’s jurisdiction”, - said Lomjaria.

She urged the Georgian government to “spare no efforts,” through the cooperation with international organizations, to investigate the videos and hold those responsible accountable.
Public Defender stated that Russia, which carries out effective control of the Georgian regions, is responsible for such violations.