Timur Tskhovrebov

Human rights defender Mr Timur Tskhovrebov was assaulted on 24 July 2010 by an armed group who threatened to kill him.

Further Information

Timur Tskhovrebov is a journalist, human rights activist, and a founding member of the opposition republican party “Iron”. After the five-day war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008, which centred on the breakaway of South Ossetia from Georgia, Timur Tskhovrebov helped numerous journalists and international human rights groups working in the region.

On 24 July 2010 at approximately 1.00pm, Timur Tskhovrebov was attacked in the centre of the city of Tskhinvali by ten armed individuals who threatened to kill him. Mr Tskhovrebov reported to have recognised three representatives of the South Ossetian Parliament among them: Kazimir Pliev, Dmitry Vaneev and Alan Khasiev. A police patrol reportedly present in the street at the time did not intervene to protect Timur Tskhovrebov. The human rights defender was beaten and suffered multiple injuries including a knife wound to the neck, a broken finger and concussion.

On 25 July 2010, Mr Tskhovrebov was transferred to a hospital in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, where he currently remains while receiving treatment. He has been diagnosed with an adult umbilical hernia, and needs an operation which has been currently postponed because of his generally poor condition of health.

Timur Tskhovrebov is one of the signatories of a joint statement adopted on 16 July 2010 by a Georgian-Ossetian civil society forum held in the Netherlands. This statement appeals to the United Nations-sponsored Geneva Consultations, the only negotiating platform between the Russian, Ossetian, Georgian and Abkhazian authorities and international organisations, which was established after the August 2008 war. In this statement, participants call on the authorities to prioritise the security of the population and the resolution of urgent humanitarian problems, such as freedom of movement, unlawful detention, and gas and water delivery in frontier regions, rather than political issues.

On 20 July 2010, Mr Boris Chochiev, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the South Ossetian President appointed to address post-conflict regulation, held a press conference concerning the statement, during which he called the signatories traitors of Ossetia and alleged that Timur Tskhovrebov had damaged the process of international recognition of South Ossetia as an independent state.

Front Line condemns the assault of Timur Tskhovrebov, and expresses its concern for his physical and psychological security and integrity. In particular Front Line is also concerned regarding the reported non-intervention of the police during the attack, the alleged participation of Members of Parliament in the assault and the aforementioned statements by an Ossetian official. Front Line believes that the assault and death threats against Timur Tskhovrebov are directly related to his legitimate human rights activities.