The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has published its judgment in the case of 19-year-old Temirlan Machalikashvili, who was fatally wounded during a special operation in the Pankisi Gorge in December 2017.
The Court found a procedural violation of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to life), but did not establish a violation of the article in the substantive aspect.
In particular, the court concluded that the version of events presented by the Georgian authorities was plausible.
“The court considered that there is insufficient evidence on the basis of which it can be concluded, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Temirlan Machalikashvili died in circumstances that entail the responsibility of the state,” the decision says.
At the same time, the court considers that the state failed to ensure an effective and thorough investigation into the circumstances of Machalikashvili's death.
The Court did not find a violation of Article 3 (prohibition of torture) in relation to members of the Machalikashvili family.
The ECtHR ruled that the Georgian authorities must pay the applicants 10,000 euros in compensation for non-pecuniary damage and 15,000 euros in legal costs. The plaintiffs were the parents, sister and grandmother of Temirlan Machalikashvili.
Temirlan Machalikashvili, 19, was seriously wounded on December 26, 2017 during a special operation in the Pankisi Gorge. He died from his injuries on January 10, 2018.
According to the official version, the special operation was directed against persons associated with the group of terrorist Akhmed Chataev, who was liquidated in November 2017 in Tbilisi. Temirlan's father, Malkhaz Machalikashvili, stated that his son had nothing to do with terrorism.
PIA.ge
