De facto General Prosecutor’s Office of South Ossetia has launched an investigation against the so-called former Minister of Internal Affairs, Igor Naniev. He is charged with exceeding authority. The case stems from the beating and torture of 28-year-old Inal Jabiev during interrogation, after which he succumbed to his injuries.
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According to the de facto General Prosecutor’s Office, the criminal case against Naniev has diverged from the ongoing investigation into the wrongful death of Jabiev.
28-year-old Inal Jabiev was detained on August 27, 2020, in relation to the case of shooting up the official car of de facto Internal Affairs Minister Igor Naniev. The so-called Prosecutor’s Office claimed that the vehicle took a single round shot from a Makarov pistol. No one was injured in the shooting. The investigation into the incident was launched under Articles 277 and 222 of the Criminal Law Code of the Russian Federation, which refers to an attempt to endanger the life of a state official and unlawful acquisition, storage, and carrying of illegal firearms. On the following day of the arrest, August 28, Jabiev was taken from the temporary detention cell to the hospital in a state of unconsciousness. He died from his injuries in the resuscitation center without regaining consciousness. Photos soon emerged showing bruising and hemorrhages consistent with beating. According to the post-mortem forensic analyses, Inal Jabiev died from "acute heart failure as a result of the inflicted physical trauma".
Supposed accomplices – Gersan Kulumbegov and Nikolay Zhermanov confirmed in their testimony that they were tortured during the investigation. In July of 2022, the so-called Supreme Court of South Ossetia closed the case against them for a lack of evidence for their participation in the crime.
Following a public outcry and mass protests, the so-called Minister of Internal Affairs was relieved of duty, and seven police officers were charged with exceeding authority.
The investigation into Inal Jabiev’s death is still ongoing. This case was referenced in Amnesty International's Human Rights Report 2022/23. The international human rights organization writes that the case of Jabiev, who was tortured to death in custody, was not handled properly.
