The Dzhabiev case has affected the response to security forces violence in South Ossetia

The security officials involved in the beating of two young men in Tskhinvali in October have been dismissed; the boys' parents are not seeking a different punishment. The authorities' decision to dismiss those involved in the incident demonstrates a shift in attitudes toward violence in South Ossetia following the death of Inal Dzhabiev.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," Natalia Dadiani and Fatima Kumaritova filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office requesting criminal proceedings against the security forces. The women claim their sons were beaten on October 12. 

South Ossetian human rights activist  Lira Tskhovrebova  reported that the parents of the young men beaten by security forces complained to the prosecutor's office, but the incident was ultimately resolved, one might say, almost "amicably."

"The parents complained to  the prosecutor's office, they complained to the president, and these ( security officials)  were fired. This decision was later criticized, but the parents agreed with the decision that those who beat these children  were punished by  being fired.  There was no further information," Tskhovrebova told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her, the parents of the young people are satisfied with the decision and are not insisting on a different punishment.

"They had been beaten,  and the parents complained based on that.  Then  the Minister of Internal Affairs  announced that everyone involved in the incident had been fired from their jobs.  Then  the parents stated  that  they were satisfied with the punishment, agreed with it, and would not be filing any further complaints," Tskhovrebova explained.

In her opinion, the incident was not only related to driving without license plates.

"In my opinion, they were simply being insolent. Their parents are fighting in the Northern Military District, and when they were reprimanded, they somehow provoked it. But in any case, the security forces had no right to beat them.  The boys were at fault, and they should have been punished administratively. And beating them like that is inhumane, certainly arbitrary, " Tskhovrebova emphasized.

The correspondent managed to contact  the mother of one of the young men, Fatima Kumaritova,  but she declined to comment, stating that she “didn’t have time.”

Former member of parliament of South Ossetia, lawyer   Amiran Dyakonov believes that the situation with violence by law enforcement officers has changed since the time of the previous government.

"I'm referring to law enforcement violence against the population. As for these guys, we need  to constantly remind  them that our law enforcement officers must  act only within the law,"  he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The lawyer reported that driving without license plates is punishable by administrative penalties under South Ossetian law.

"According to the law, he must be fined and appropriate administrative measures taken. But under no circumstances should violence be used," Dyakonov noted.

Inal Dzhabiev's widow,  Oksana Sotieva,  stated that  impunity always breeds permissiveness,  but the case surrounding her husband's death has influenced attitudes toward violence by security forces.

"The government, thank  God , is responding. Honestly, I was even a little surprised that a number of employees were fired, not for cause, of course, but that's progress for us,"  she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Earlier, the " Caucasian Knot " reported that on October 2, the Tskhinvali City Court  found  all defendants in the case of Inal Dzhabiev's death guilty. Five of them were sentenced to terms ranging from three to five years in prison: three (Dzhumber Bibilov, Alan Bagayev, and Andrei Dzhioyev) were arrested in the courtroom, and two others were given credit for time served in custody. The court imposed fines on two former security officials, which were released due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. After the verdict was announced, approximately 10 relatives of the convicted men  gathered  in the central square in Tskhinvali. The South Ossetian prosecutor's office promised to appeal the case. A lawyer for Inal Dzhabiev's family asked the Supreme Court of South Ossetia  to increase the sentence  in the case of his death.