Shooting of Temirlan Machalikashvili

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European Court of Human Rights

Georgia violated Pankisi teen Machalikashvili’s right to life, court finds

by Robin Fabbro

•2 min read

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Georgian State Security Services (SSG) violated the right to life of 19-year-old Temirlan Machalikashvili, who was shot dead in a raid on his home in the Pankisi Valley in December 2017. In their ruling on Thursday, the court found insufficient evidence to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that Machalikashvili was unlawfully killed, finding the state’s explanation that he was reaching for a hand grenade when shot ‘plausible’. However, the

Afgan Mukhtarli

Controversial Georgian ex-Chief Prosecutor reconfirmed to his post

by OC Media

•6 min read

In spite of opposition protests and a boycott by the opposition, the Georgian Dream majority in parliament has confirmed Irakli Shotadze, the former Chief Prosecutor of Georgia, as Chief Prosecutor once again. Shotadze served in the position from November 2015 until the spring of 2018, when he was forced to resign amidst large street rallies in Tbilisi over his and other officials’ handling of the Khorava Street killings. As Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia entered the Parliament ami

Municipal workers cleared away the protest camp early Tuesday morning and erected a New Year display in it's place. Photo: Shota Kincha/OC Media.

2019 Gavrilov’s Night Protests

Georgian authorities clear Parliament protest camp for New Year’s amusement park

by OC Media

•4 min read

Tbilisi City Hall has cleared the area in front of the Georgian Parliament of protest tents and banners in order to erect a temporary amusement park for the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. Police arrested 10 activists in the early hours of 31 December as members of the Shame anti-government movement tried to prevent municipal sanitary workers from clearing the site. The area in front of parliament has been continuously occupied by protesters with various grievances since June 2018.

Editorial

Editorial | Georgian Dream’s seven ‘bloody years’

by OC Media

•3 min read

Georgian Dream swept to power in 2012 on the promise of ending police violence, which they labelled the UNM’s ‘nine bloody years’. They have failed. ‘Mother, I’m leaving you alone but I can’t help it’. These were the final words left by 22-year-old Samtredia resident Demur Sturua, before he took his own life in August 2016. It was not a mere farewell letter, as Sturua made sure to identify the police officer, Goderdzi Tevzadze, who he said had beaten and pressured him into testifying ag

Georgia

Opinion | Nearly two years after the killing of Temirlan Machalikashvili there are still no answers

by Tamta Mikeladze

•7 min read

Temirlan Machalikashvili was killed by Georgian security forces in his own bed. The investigation into his death, marked by irregularities and conflicts of interest, has stalled. The government still refuses to act. 19-year-old Temirlan Machalikashvili fell into a coma and died after he was shot in the head during a special operation by the Georgian State Security Service (SSG) in Duisi, a village in the Pankisi Valley, on the night of 26 December 2017. Family members remember that specia

Georgia

New Interior Minister candidate says he would have used more force in Pankisi

by OC Media

•4 min read

Vakhtang Gomelauri, who is poised to become the next Georgian Interior Minister, has told parliament he would have used more force against residents of Pankisi. Both Gomelauri and prospective defence minister Irakli Gharibashvili made controversial statements in front of lawmakers on Thursday during their confirmation hearings. Gomelauri made the comments in relation to clashes between riot police and residents of northeast Georgia’s Pankisi Valley this April. ‘I would have deployed mo

European Court of Human Rights

Family of slain Pankisi teenager appeals to European Court of Human Rights

by OC Media

•4 min read

The family of Temirlan Machalikashvili, a 19-year-old ethnic Kist from Georgia’s Pankisi Valley killed in a special operation, is taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights. The teenager was fatally shot while in bed in December 2017 during a counterterror sweep in Pankisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Centre (EMC), a Tbilisi-based rights group, announced on Thursday that they were taking on the case on behalf of the family. The group said they were challenging t