Body of Georgian man who died in Abkhazia handed over to Georgian officials

Enguri Bridge connects occupied Abkhazia with the rest of Georgia. Photo: Tamar Zantaraia/RFERL

Agenda.ge, 13 Mar 2019 - 21:30, Tbilisi,Georgia

The body of 29-year-old Georgian citizen Irakli Kvaratskhelia, who died in unclear circumstances in occupied Abkhazia, has been handed over to his relatives on Tbilisi-controlled territory.

Deputy State Ministrer for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ruslan Abashidze and officials from the State Security Service were also waiting for the young man’s body near the Enguri Bridge, connecting occupied Abkhazia with the rest of Georgia.

Ruslan Abashidze said an autopsy and investigation will reveal the reasons of Kvaratskhelia’s death.

The de facto authorities of Abkhazia claim that the young man, who was detained for “illegally crossing” the so-called border, hung himself at the Nabakevi military base.

News of Kvaratskhelia’s death was reported yesterday, however sources fix his death at an earlier date.