Recent incidents in Tskhinvali, in which physical
force was used against opposition activists and journalists, demonstrate the
repressive approach of the de facto government towards criticism and freedom of
expression.
One of the latest of these incidents
concerns the violence against Alexander Kelekhsaev, former editor-in-chief of
the South Ossetia newspaper and a member of the opposition party United
Ossetia. According to reports, Kelekhsaev became a victim of physical violence in
the evening hours due to a slightly ironic comment on a social network
regarding the increase in utility bills. Neither de facto president Alan
Gagloev nor the so-called government was mentioned in the comment. According to
Kelekhsaev, shortly after posting the
comment, two unknown individuals came to his house and physically forced him get into a car.
Kelekhsaev was taken to the so-called president’s office, where Alan Gagloev
showed him an excerpt from his written comment and stated that it was part of
an “information war.” On January 14, Aleksandr Kelekhsaev wrote on Facebook
that he had met with de facto president Alan Gagloev and received guarantees
that the perpetrators would be punished. However, he also noted that he did not want to
punish them to the full extent of the law and was going to withdraw his application from the
prosecutor’s office. Kelekhsaev noted that they had “settled” an issue and similar
incidents would not be
repeated in the future.
Another incident of violence occurred
against Konstantin Pliev, the
so-called independent deputy in the de facto parliament. According to reports,
Pliev, who was trying to defuse
a conflict, was physically assaulted by representatives of the
so-called ruling party Nykhas.
Pliev claimed that his injury was not politically motivated, as he was only trying to defuse a conflict between the parties.
However, according to the social
media, he was physically assaulted by state security officers. Pliev and his
family were threatened with physical violence if they made the fact public. In
the end, the incident became public and, according to reports, Pliev was forced
to publish a “consoling text” that no one believed. According to unconfirmed
reports, like Kelekhsaev, Pliev was also taken to Gagloev’s office. People on
social media are expressing concern, linking the facts against Pliev and
Kelekhsaev to each other, and writing
that the government of the so-called republic has openly launched repressions.
The violence against Kelekhsaev and
Pliev has been met with a strong reaction from the so-called opposition
parties. Atsamat Bibilov, the leader of the United Ossetia party, strongly
condemned the violence and recalled previous cases when similar incidents were
carried out against other individuals, including former prosecutor Alan
Kulumbegov. According to him, the
so-called president, Alan Gagloev, must respect citizens’ rights protected
by the so-called constitution.
Many people on social networks are
concerned that such incidents could create an even more difficult political
situation. The population is critical of Alan Gagloev’s actions and is
extremely concerned that he may follow the “Kadyrov” path. The facts that have
occurred and the political dynamics behind them clearly indicate that the
political tone in South Ossetia is sharply increasing, and repressions may
continue on a larger scale.
5 თებერვალს, ,,ქართული ოცნების“ ლიდერმა მამუკა მდინარაძემ საზოგადოებას ახალი რეპრესიული კანონმდებლობის მიღება დაუანონსა.
On February 3,
after the party session, the leader of the Georgian Dream, Mamuka
Mdinaradze, announced the
tightening of
the repressive policy
by introducing amendments to legislation.
არასამთავრობო ორგანიზაციების სამართლებრივი დახმარების ქსელის იურისტები განაგრძობენ მშვიდობიანი დემონსტრანტების უფლებების დაცვას.