A citizen of South Ossetia Boris Turashvili, convicted in Georgia on trumped -up charges, went on a hunger strike. As reported to journalists Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev, Turashvili had been convicted in January 2010 for the long term.
"He appealed to the Georgian authorities for pardon, but his appeal was not responded. He did not apply for a pardon to former administration, since under Mikhail Saakashvili against him were fabricated false accusations. Now he turned to the new Georgian authorities and they also did not react, "- said Dzhioev, noting that in protest Turashvili went on a hunger strike.
In this regard the envoy has reminded that the South Ossetian side has repeatedly offered the Georgian authorities to exchange prisoners kept in prisons of South Ossetia and Georgia, on the principle "all for all." Dzhioev has expressed hope that the Georgian authorities will respond to these requests and agree to a mutual release of prisoners.
According to him, the South Ossetian side also appealed to international organizations - participants of the Geneva discussions and Mechanisms to prevent and respond to incidents - to assist in solution of this problem.
In total, currently in Georgian prisons are being kept five citizens of South Ossetia, three of whom were sentenced to life imprisonment on trumped-up charges.
"Eight days they were under arrest for smuggling cigarettes and auto parts, and then they were accused of terrorism. These people are innocent; they were indicted on the obviously trumped-up charges by the then authorities of Georgia. But since the current government is not personally responsible for those crimes, it would be a good step appreciated by residents of both countries to conduct mutual release of prisoners,"- said the envoy.
According to him, in a penal colony in Tskhinval there are currently about 10 citizens of Georgia.
"However, this does not mean that they are all convicted. Moreover, this figure often changes as take place detentions for violations of the state border, "- explained Dzhioev.
He has assured that the South Ossetian side is ready for a mutual release of prisoners at any time, noting that according to representatives of the Georgian authorities, this issue is still under consideration.
Boris Turashvili`s mother Giuli Doguzova said that her son had spent almost seven years in Georgian prison, and now he was on the tenth day hunger strike.
"He is now between life and death. He believed in the new government of Georgia, appealed for pardon, but his requests remain without response," - she told the news agency" Res".
According to Doguzova, her son was indicted on eight articles of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
Once a month the Red Cross organizes a meeting with her son, the last time they met on December 6.
"After the last meeting we got in touch on the phone few times, I cannot call him, only he can. But a few days ago, his friends called me and said that Boris could not speak on the phone, because he had become very weak. They said that he was under surveillance, and he would not die,"- said Doguzova.
Through the media she also appealed to the President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili to pardon her son.
