Georgian from Pankisi Gorge Dies in Syria

A Georgian man from Pankisi gorge was killed in Syria, Georgian media sources reported on August 28.

Pankisi-based community radio station WAY identified the man as 31-year-old Levan Tokhosashvili, from village Omalo in Pankisi gorge in eastern region of Kakheti.

Radio station WAY said, citing relatives of Tokhosashvili, that he died as a result of aerial bombing. Tokhosashvili’s wife and four children were reportedly killed as well.

Radio WAY also wrote that Tokhosashvili left Georgia two years ago and travelled to Syria through Turkey. It, however, did not elaborate whether Tokhosashvili died fighting for the “Islamic State” group, which had previosuly recruited dozens of locals.

At least 26 Georgian citizens, natives of Pankisi gorge, have died fighting in Syria since 2012.

According to the State Security Service, as of March 2016, there were “up to 50 Georgian citizens” fighting for extremist groups in Syria and Iraq.

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