On 28 August, the de facto government of Georgia’s separatist region Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) was dismissed after hundreds of street protestors demanded action regarding the torture inflicted death of a 28-year-old prisoner Inal Dzhabiev. He was detained on suspicion of involvement in the shelling of the official car of the de facto Interior Minister Igor Naniev on 18 August 2020. The leaked photos on Tskhinvali social media confirmed that he experienced torture during his detention. 

Around 300 people gathered including de facto Tskhinvali parliamentarians and government officials to demand that the government step down and that an investigation be carried out into Dzhabiev’s death. David Sanakoev, one of the leaders of the opposition Nykhas Party, reportedly said that what was happening was the result of ‘inaction, cover-ups, lawlessness, and illegal acts committed over the past months’ by the authorities.

Following the protest, Tskhinvali’s de facto Prime Minister Erik Pukhaev resigned and the de facto President Anatoly Bibilov stated that the investigation into Dzhabiev’s death will under his direct control. The protesters however, demand that Tskhinvali’s de facto Prosecutor General and Bibilov also step down.

The Georgian State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality responded to the incident, expressing its ‘deep concern’ over Dzhabiev’s death. Speaking of the ‘grave’ humanitarian situation in the occupied region, the State Ministry said that the death of Dzhabiev should be laid on the de facto Tskhinvali leadership. It also called on its partners to ‘continue pressure’ on the de facto leadership to stop human rights violations on the ground.