Forensic Expertise Has not Returned Body of Dead Person to the Family for Two Years Already

Lela Khechoshvili, Kakheti

On June 29, Kakheti office of Human Rights Center organized a press-conference about the dragged out investigation into the case of deceased 79-year-old Anzor Garibashvili.

Lawyer of Human Rights Center Lia Khuroshvili said the family is looking for the body of 79-year-old Anzor Garibashvili, who died two years ago; the Gurjaani district police had sent the body to the forensic expertise. “On July 17, 2014, Anzor Garibashvili disappeared and the Kakheti regional rescue team, Gurjaani district police department and local population were looking for him during three months in vain.”

On October 12, 2014 an individual found passport of the missing man and informed the family about it. They applied to the Gurjaani district police for help.

“The law enforcement officers discovered bones of Anzor Garibashvili in the area. The relatives recognized the old man with the silver teeth in the skull. Gurjaani district police sent his corpse to the expertise for further identification of the person. The relatives were told the expertise will finish in a month but the family has been waiting for the corpse for two years already. We blame the police in inactivity because despite our multiple petitions they did not give the corpse to the family. In fact, the family lost the man for the second time because his corpse disappeared in the investigative body,” Lia Khuroshvili said.

The Garibashvilis request prompt return of the corpse to bury him according to traditions. The daughter of the deceased old man states they no longer want investigation or expertise, they just demand the investigative bodies to return the corpse to the family.

“We do not know where the corpse is. We no longer request anything – we are fed up with looking for his body for so long time already; let them give the corpse that we could bury him. They say he was killed because there were some injuries on his skull. This is the only information we have,” daughter of the deceased man Nona Garibashvili said. 

Daughter-in-law of the deceased man Maya Garibashvili told humanrights.ge that expertise has not taken DNA test of Anzor Garibashvili’s children. 

“I do not know how they conduct expertise. We were told they intended to test the DNA but nothing was done so far because none of his three children were called to the analysis. The law enforcement officers told us when expertise is over, they will inform the Gurjaani district prosecutor’s office,” Maya Garibashvili said.

Representatives of the MIA state the investigation is still ongoing under Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Georgia that is bringing a person to the point of suicide. According to the Ministry, they are waiting for the expertise conclusion.