Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office returns seized property to rightful owners

A Georgian family who were victims of the former government’s repression are finally being given justice after their property worth more than half a million dollars was illegally seized by ex-officials six years ago.

Today the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia announced people who had had their homes and land illegally confiscated by the previous state leadership would have their properties returned, including the Kapanadze family.

The Office claimed Ilia Kapanadze, a resident of Gori in central Georgia, was forced by the former Prosecutor’s Office to hand over his land to the state in September 2010. On the land was several buildings and other real estate.

The value of the property and land exceeded $562,000 USD. 

Today the Chief Prosecutor’s Office alleged Kapanadze’s family were subject to continued psychological pressure and threats until they met the former government’s demands.

The Office announced the prosecutor who led the unlawful action in 2010 under the United National Movement (UNM)-led government, was cooperating with the investigation and he would not be legally prosecuted for his past actions.

The individual was no longer an employee of the Prosecutor’s Office.