Alexander Berulava

Alexander (Sasha) Berulava (Georgian: ალექსანდრე (საშა) ბერულავა) (11 November 1945 – 27 September 1993) was a Georgian journalist, writer, and human rights activist, founder of the Georgian Television of Abkhazia, who was murdered by Abkhaz separatists during the ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia in 1993 together with other members of the Government of Abkhazia.

Alexander (Sasha) Berulava
ალექსანდრე (საშა) ბერულავა
Alexander Berulava's official portrait, Sukhumi
BornAlexander Berulava (Georgian: ალექსანდრე ბერულავა)
(1945-11-11)11 November 1945
Sukhumi, Abkhazian ASSR, Georgian SSR, USSR
Died27 September 1993(1993-09-27) (aged 46)
Sukhumi, Georgia
Resting placeUnknown
OccupationJournalist, writer
NationalityGeorgian
Alma materTbilisi State University
Period1970–1993
SubjectPolitics, human rights,
Notable awards
Vakhtang Gorgasali Order, First Rank
SpouseNatela Gogia
Children
  • Iya

Alexander Berulava was born on 11 November 1945 in Sukhumi, Georgia. Berulava graduated from the Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Journalism.

Berulava joined the legitimate Council of Ministers and the Council of Self-Defense of Abkhazian Autonomous Republic during the Georgian-Abkhazian War in 1993 and served as the head of Military Press-Center. When the city of Sukhumi fell to the Russian-supported separatists on 27 September 1993, Berulava along with other authorities from the legitimate Government of Abkhazian Autonomous Republic (Zhiuli Shartava, Raul Eshba, Mamia Alasania, Guram Gabiskiria and others) refused to leave the besieged city and was captured by Abkhaz militants and North Caucasian mercenaries.

Based on video materials, Human rights documents and witness accounts[1] of the event, Berulava, Gabiskiria, Shartava, Eshba and other members of the government were dragged outside of the parliament building and forced to knee by the Abkhaz/North Caucasian militants. Berulava is not seen on the video, though according to the testimony of his friends, he refused to surrender and always kept a bullet and a F1 grenade in case of his capture (He was already captured by Abkhazian forces at the beginning of conflict and was tortured in Gudauta).[2]

All captured members of the government including Berulava were murdered by the Abkhaz militants.

The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili awarded Alexander Berulava with the Vakhtang Gorgasali Order First grade order for his courage and heroism in the fight for the protection of the homeland and its territorial integrity.[3]

References
  1. US State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993, February 1994, pp. 80
  2. "Memorium". 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  3. საქართველოს პრეზიდენტმა ჟურნალისტი ალექსანდრე ბერულავა, სიკვდილის შემდეგ, ვახტანგ გორგასლის პირველი ხარისხის ორდენით დააჯილდოვა
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