Man suspected of kidnapping likely tortured to death in Abkhazia

A suspect in a kidnapping case has died after being tortured in Abkhazia. 

Ombudsman Asida Shakryl says she will do all he can to ensure the crime does not go unpunished.

There are no official details on how Anzor Tarba died. 

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A message from an anonymous source appeared on social media that Tarba died after being tortured. In the comments to the post was attached a photo of his body with numerous bruises and abrasions.

Anzor Tarba was detained on July 9 on suspicion of involvement in the abduction of Omar Mirtskhulava.

Mirtskhulava was kidnapped in mid-April 2019 and held in an abandoned home in the town of Tkvarchal. A week ago, he managed to escape from there himself. The police then detained several people, including Tarba.

Ombudsman Asida Shakryl says that on June 11, Anzor Tarba was taken to the Ministry of the Interior on June 11 from the Gulipsh district police station and that after being interrogated, he died.

“I hope that the Prosecutor General’s Office will conduct an internal investigation, and all the perpetrators of the incident will be brought before the law,” said Asida Shakryl.

She believes that “the General Prosecutor’s Office is obliged to begin a serious investigation into this case of the use of physical violence and torture in places of temporary detention.”

“Recently, the office of the ombudsman has often received information about cases of the use of physical violence against suspects and prisoners. It must be ensured that a proper forensic examination be carried out in the case of Tarba.

I hope that the Minister of the Interior will clarify what happened. We … for our part, will take control of the investigation of what happened“, said Asida Shakryl.

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