11:23, 2 September 2020

Half of South-Ossetian MPs announce boycott

Extraordinary meeting of the Parliament of South Ossetia in connection with the political situation over the death of Inal Djambiev, August 29, 2020. Photo: press service of the Parliament of South Ossetia

Seventeen out of 34 South-Ossetian parliamentarians have suspended their work pending resignation of Uruzmag Djagaev, the Public Prosecutor General, to whom the parliament announced a vote of distrust after the death of Inal Djambiev, detained by law enforcers. Djagaev refused to follow the MPs' demand.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 28, in Tskhinvali, Inal Djabiev, detained within the case of an attempt on Igor Naniev, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), died. Photos with signs of severe beatings on the detainee's body were disseminated on the Internet. Eight employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) were detained in the case on the Inal Djabiev's death.

On the day of Inal Djabiev's death, hundreds of South-Ossetian residents rallied in front of the government building and demanded the resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers (CoM) and the republic's head. The protesters stayed in the central square overnight and dispersed only in the morning, but in the afternoon, they began gathering again there. On August 31, Djabiev's funeral turned into a crowded procession.

On September 1, in his Facebook page, David Sanakoev, an MP from the "Nykhas" Party, posted a statement signed by 17 MPs on the suspension of their work in parliament until Djagaev resigns.

"We, the undersigned South-Ossetian MPs, declare the suspension of our work at the parliament until the President of South Ossetia fulfils the demands of South-Ossetia people to dismiss the Public Prosecutor General of the Republic ... We believe that while Djagaev, U. F., is taking the post of the Republic's Public Prosecutor General, no comprehensive and complete inquiry into the death of Djambiev, I. S., and punishment of those guilty are possible," the statement says.

On September 1, Uruzmag Djagaev announced his readiness to resign only if some of the MPs renounce their parliamentary immunity, which prevents them from being criminally prosecuted.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 2, 2020 at 07:22 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.