Tbilisi plans to sue Russia in ECHR over fmr. Georgian soldier's death in Tskhinval
TBILISI. May 8 (Interfax) - Georgia intends to file a lawsuit against Russia with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over the death of former Georgian serviceman Archil Tatunashviil in Tskhinval, Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani told reporters.
"The Justice Ministry began drawing up a lawsuit to be lodged with the Strasbourg-based court back in March 2018, when our authorities were making every effort to secure the return of Archil Tatunashvili's body from Tskhinval. In the near future, we will finish preparing the lawsuit to be filed on behalf of Georgia against the Russian Federation," she said.
Tatunashvili was detained by South Ossetian law enforcement in the town of Leningor on February 22 on suspicion of carrying out reconnaissance and subversive activity and of involvement in committing genocide against the Ossetian people during the conflict with Georgia in August 2008.
According to Tskhinval, during a failed escape attempt, while the escorting officers were trying to prevent Tatunashvili from running away, he lost his balance and fell on the stairs. He was taken to a hospital, where he died two hours later. The body was handed over to his relatives on March 20. Tatunashvili's funeral was held on March 24.
Georgian forensic experts have not presented a report on the causes of his death.