Hamlet Guchmazov

Hamlet Guchmazov
Born	(1976-07-09) July 9, 1976 (age 48) Tskhinvali, South Ossetian AO, Georgian SSR, USSR
Years active	2008
Known for	Head of the Tskhinvali prison ICC indicted war criminal International fugitive

Hamlet Guchmazov (born July 9, 1976) is an indicted Ossetian war criminal from the partially recognized Caucasian Republic of South Ossetia.^[a][1] Guchmazov was indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes related to his actions as the head of the Tskhinvali prison.^[1]

Biography

Guchmazov was born on July 9, 1976, in the Tskhinvali region.^[1]

Guchmazov was named the head of the Tskhinvali prison during the 2008 Russo Georgian war.^[2][3][1] During which he has been accused of committing crimes against humanity against the Georgian inmates, including; illegal detention, torture and ill-treatment, insulting personal dignity, hostage-taking and illegal displacement of civilians.^[4][1][5] Guchmazov would be indicted by the International Criminal Court due to these crimes on July 1, 2022.^[1][5][6][7] The ICC investigator, Karim Ahmad Khan, stated that the crimes showcased a wider nature of criminal acts, such as mass looting and destruction of Georgian villages, and the denial of the right of Georgians to return to their homes.^[7]

At the outbreak of war Guchmazov advocated and perused the arrest and detention of all ethnic Georgians in the Tskhinvali region, stating that it was to ensure their "safety."^[5][8] Guchmazov was indicted alongside David Sanakoev, the South Ossetian Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mikhail Mindzaev the minister of foreign affairs.^[8] Vyacheslav Borisov, a general who had recently died at the time of the indictment, was also investigated, but his charges where dropped with his death.^[5][8] In response to the indictment the government of South Ossetia denounced the ICC as illegitimate, since the court has no jurisdiction on the territory of either Russia or South Ossetia, however, Georgia is a member of the ICC, which all but six members of the United Nation recognize South Ossetia as being illegally occupied by Russia.^[8][6] The South Ossetian government also denounced the ICC as a "tool of the west" accusing it of being anti-Russian.^[6][9]

Shortly after his indictment a grenade was thrown at Guchmazov's house, detonating and destroying his car.^[10] Guchmazov was not present at the time of the incident.^[10]

Notes

1. All but 6 countries of the United Nations recognize South Ossetia as part of Georgia illegally occupied by Russia.

References

1. "International Court issued arrest warrants for three former South Ossetian officials". JAM News. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
2. "The court in The Hague is used to represent Russia as the aggressor, South Ossetia announced". State Information Agency. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
3. "International Criminal Court Completes Investigation Regarding 2008 Russo-Georgian War". caucasuswatch.de. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
4. "Суд в Гааге завершил расследование по делу о войне 2008 года". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
5. "Tskhinvali Rejects to Work with ICC". Civil Georgia. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
6. "Предвзятость европейского правосудия: ложные факты и политический заказ". south-ossetia.info. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
7. "Международный уголовный суд завершил этап расследования войны 2008 года". Civil Georgia. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
8. Tarkhanova, Zhanna. ""An obedient instrument in the hands of the West": How South Ossetia reacted to the decision of the Hague court". JAM News. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
9. Тарханова, Жанна. ""Послушный инструмент в руках Запада". Как в Южной Осетии отреагировали на решение Гаагского суда". JAM News. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
10. "Взрыв гранаты в Цхинвали мог быть направлен против обвиняемого Гаагой экс-чиновника". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved July 4, 2024.