Inal Dzhabiev, a resident of Tskhinvali who was detained in 2021 on suspicion of attempting to kill former Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Naniev and died a few days later after being beaten within the gates of law enforcement authorities, was acquitted.
The de facto Supreme Court of the separatist Tskhinvali region concluded its inquiry into the attempted killing of Igor Naniev on June 8. In the same case, prosecutor Eduard Dzhioev withdrew all accusations against the deceased Inal Dzhabiev and four charges against Nikolai Tskhovrebov. The court will announce the decision to remove the accusation together with the judgement on July 15. As the prosecution indicated in court, his judgement was based on proof that the defendants were not involved in the official's attempted killing.
Additionally, Dzhioev said that Nikolai Tskhovrebov could be convicted of illegal possession, acquisition, and transfer of firearms in accordance with Part 1 of Article 222 of the Russian Federation's Criminal Code. The prosecution asked that he be given a three-year suspended sentence with a two-year probationary period, taking into account the nature of the threat created by the crime, which was of moderate severity, the identity of the perpetrator, and mitigating circumstances - the presence of a minor child.
Fatima Gatagonova, representing Nikolai Tskhovrebov, objected to the prosecution, stating that Tskhovrebov did not purchase the pistol in question for the aim of conducting unlawful activities, storing it, or transferring it to anyone. Numerous awards received by Nikolai Tskhovrebov, including the medal For Saving Life, were also included in the investigation.
In 2020, Caucasus Watch reported that the de-facto government of Georgia’s separatist region Tskhinvali was dismissed after hundreds of street protestors demanded action regarding the torture inflicted death of a 28-year-old prisoner Inal Dzhabiev. On August 18, 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of participating in the shelling of the official automobile of de facto Interior Minister Igor Naniev. The leaked photos on Tskhinvali social media confirmed that he experienced torture during his detention. Around 300 people, including de facto Tskhinvali lawmakers and government officials, gathered to demand the government's resignation and a probe into Dzhabiev's killing. David Sanakoev, one of the leaders of the opposition Nykhas Party, reportedly stated that the situation was the result of months of delay, cover-ups, anarchy, and unlawful conduct by the government.
