Versions Concerning the Assault on Davit Shengelia’s Family

Three armed and masked men assaulted family of Davit Shengelia, leader of partisan movement “the Forest Brothers” against Abkhaz separatists in Zugdidi on Sunday, September 2. They shot to death Shengelia’s mother-in-law and father-in-law and wounded his wife’s brother. “It is said that the aggression was directed against the partisan and served to his death”, the Akhali Taoba states.

There are many versions concerning the assault. Some politicians even presume that Georgian state officials had ordered it. According to nonofficial information of the Akhali Taoba, Davit Shengelia shares the idea but he is not intending to make any official statements or give evidences to the investigation yet. It is also likely that the murder was a result of conflict between criminal families. The most widespread version concerning the crime case is related to Abkhaz separatists’ participation in it. A car, which the assaulters were driving, was found nearby river Enguri, border between Georgia and separatist republic of Abkhazia.

Leader of legitimate Abkhazian government Tamaz Nadareishvili told the Resonance that Shengelia’s family was assaulted because of his partisan activity. “The murder was probably committed by Abkhazians for Mr. Shengelia is a leader of the partisan movement and he has even been problematic for Abkhazians recently”, Mr. Nadareishvili stated. He supposes that tension of the situation in Samegrelo (western part of Georgia) might follow the assault. Majorette deputy of Zugdidi Tengiz Jgushia has the same opinion.

According to the information disseminated among the population, Davit Shengelia has close relations with certain criminal groups. People in Zugdidi claim that large part of partisans commits different types of crime. Tamaz Nadareishvili denies the version and states that many criminals use the name of partisans (the Alia).

The Akhali Taoba is curious about how Abkhaz separatists (if the assaulters were in deed from Abkhazia) have entered Zugdidi so easily. “It should have been hard for Abkhaz separatists to enter the city. There are police, Interior Forces and Peace Corps there… it means that Georgian law defenders are feeble in case the crime was in fact committed by Abkhazians”, the newspaper assumes.    

The Akhali Taoba; The Resonance; The Alia