Georgian Sambo team head coach killed in shootout with militants near Russian border
TBILISI. Aug 30 (Interfax) - Georgia's Sambo national team head coach Archil Chokheli was killed along with other servicemen of special operations units during an operation targeting militants who crossed over into Georgia from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia's North Caucasus.
Maj. Chokheli, 41, was a two-time world Sambo champion and won medals at several European competitions, the Georgian sports media reported.
Chokheli combined the careers of an officer of special operations units and a Sambo coach, and was recently appointed as the head coach of Georgia's Sambo national team.
He planned to accompany his athletes to a tournament in Moscow, but had difficulty getting a Russian entry-visa due to his service in special operations units, the media said.
Chokheli's relatives told journalists that they had not been informed officially of his death, but had learned about it from news reports.
"We have been looking for him since morning, but his phone was switched off," one of the relatives said.
Chokheli's friends and relatives have been coming to his house in the village of Galavani, Mtskheta district, since Wednesday evening, the media said.
Two servicemen of special operations units and an army doctor were killed in the latest operation, Georgian security services said. At least 11 militants were eliminated.
