Tskhinvali-based Newspaper Editor Severely Beaten

On July 24 a civil activist Temur Tskhovrebov, the 21st Century newspaper editor was attacked and severely beaten in the very center of Tskhinvali. The information was disseminated by his friend Tskhinvali-based human rights defender Besarion Aseev who managed to have a talk with Tskhovrebov. According to him the attack took place in Kharebov Street. Tskhovrebov was being beaten by around ten people leveling threats against him with guns.

The newspaper editor with numerous injuries was hospitalized in Tskhinvali. The attackers, according to Besarion Aseev, included Kazimir Pliev, Dmitri Vaneev South Ossetian MP of the local People's Party and Alan Khasiev of the Communist Party. The People's Party is manned with the members of the Union of Homeland Defenders supporting S. Ossetia's de facto president Eduard Kokoity. According to Besarion Aseev Tskhovrebov's beating is related to his civil activities. On July 16 he took part in the Georgian-Ossetian civil forum. The Forum worked out an appeal to the Geneva talks' participants recommending them to address humanitarian problems. Few days ago Boris Chochiev, special envoy of de facto republic assessed the Ossetian side and especially of Tskhovrebov's participation in the forum as treason of the Ossetian state interests. For two days now, Besarion Aseev said, Temur has been leveled threats of murder by MP Kazimir Pliev.

"Around ten people including three incumbent MPs Kazimir Pliev, Dmitri Vaneev and Alan Khasiev launched an attack against Tskhovrebov in Isaak Kharebov Street. Temur has his finger broken on one hand, and the throat slashed. His head and lip have been stitched. Ahead of the incident Osinform and TV aired Boris Chochiev's speech. He declared the people having taken part in the Georgian-Ossetian forum as traitors. Tskhovrebov's beating is the consequence of Chochiev's statement. The latter accused the newspaper editor of betraying the interest of Ossetia."

According to Besarion Aseev the attack against Tskhovrebov was launched in front of Tskhinvali police officers but they made no response. The Georgian-Ossetian forum participants immediately learned of Tskhovrebov's beating. According to Megi Bibiluri, head of the non-governmental organization Bridge of Friendship KARTLOSI people are physically abused for dissention which is to be condemned. In the course of the forum, Megi Bibiluri said, Tskhovrebov always defended the interests of the Ossetian people.

Temur Tskhovrebov in the course of the very first conflict as well as during the August war in 2008 fought against Georgian armed forces with a gun in his hand. After the war he was the one having announced of the burning of Georgian books in Tskhinvali which resulted into an upheaval in the Georgian as well as Ossetian media.