Details of Policeman’s Murder

Nana Pazhava, Tsalenjikha

On November 15 thirty-three-year-old Zurab Jejelava, officer of the division # 2 of the Main Department for Special Unit within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, died as a result of the double-fire at the Georgian-Abkhazian administrative border. Abkhazian band formations opened fire at Georgian law enforcers at the village of Pakhulani in Tsalenjikha district when they were patrolling in the direction of the village of Kalaghali. Armed militants took hostages among local inhabitants and disappeared from the scene of crime.

The accident happened at the village of Pakhulani at 12:00 PM. According to the Internal Ministry the accident happened at 2:15 PM. Abkhazian-Kazak band formations opened fire at the Georgian law enforcers from the village of Lekukhona in Gali district. Zurab Jejelava was wounded when he was patrolling together with other policemen and was driving the car.

Mzia Akobia, doctor of the first medical aid in the small town of Jvarzeni: “Jijelava was dead before we placed him the ambulance. He was wounded in head and leg. We can suppose that Jejelava was finished off by the shot in his head. As he was shot from a very short distance. His skull was seriously injured.”

According to witnesses the policeman was wounded while he was sitting in the car however he could not drive away from the place, got out off the car and ran away. He could not run long distance since he was wounded in leg.

Gela Kobalia, a local resident: “We saw an armed person get out of the armored vehicle, approach Georgian policeman and shoot in head… They were Abkhazians and Kazaks. Locals think that our policemen were betrayed by someone… Evidently they had exact information what time Georgian police was patrolling in the area. They used to patrol here at different times during 2-3 hours.”

Residents of Pakhulani state they knew that Abkhazian-Kazak group intended to attack on the villages of Lekukhona and Pakhulani. Russian soldiers did not allow them to enter the villages but the harassers managed to enter Pakhulani though roundabouts.

Russian-Abkhazian news agencies reported about the incident that Georgian side renewed attack in the second part of the day.

A statement of Lavrenti Mikvabia, coordinator of law enforcement structures in Gali district, is placed on the official site of de-facto President Sergei Baghapsh. He assessed the patrolling of special unit in Georgian villages as activities of illegal formations.

Lavrenti Mikvabia: “At 12:00 PM, during patrolling in the village of Saberio, Abkhazian frontiers noticed group of six armed people and started double shooting. At 3:30 PM Georgian militants tried to attack Gali district again and they started struggles for positions. Our frontiers managed to free the territory from attackers.  Having decoding radio-messages we learned that another attack from Gregorian side was connected with the attempt to take wounded policeman from the area.”

According to the Georgian Internal Affairs Ministry Abkhazians left mines on the scene of murder; they wanted to mine the area. 20 minutes before the incident Abkhazian-Kazak armed formation kidnapped 7 Georgians in the village of Lekukhona.

Joni Gogokhia, village governor of Pakhulani: “Armed militants detained Georgian men on the road. They are Roin Tsirghvava, Gia Kobalia, Gia Akhalaia, Zurab Kobalia, Zaur Akhalaia and Bezhan Charaia from Lekukhone. Abesalom Gogokhia is from Pakhulani. They were going to the funeral of their relative in Ghvazjbergi settlement in the village of Gantiadi. “

According to Gogokhia Georgian men from Lekukhone were already released from Gali militia station. Abesalom Gogokhia is still detained who will be charged for illegal crossing the border.

After the accident, observers from EU and UN visited Pakhulani. However, their assessments regarding the fact are not reported yet.