The recent death of a young man in custody in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, followed by allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of two detainees in Tskhinvali detention center, has sparked widespread protests in Georgia’s breakaway region. Torture and other ill-treatment have been widespread in this territory for more than a decade in the context of ongoing impunity for human rights violations: the Russian and de-facto authorities have refused access to South Ossetia for international monitors. The authorities must ensure impartial investigations into this recent unlawful killing and reports of torture, uphold the right to freedom of expression, and grant international human rights organizations and monitors unhindered access to the region.
