Government receives recommendations on remains of supposed victims of Soviet repression

The Soviet Past Research Laboratory (SOVLAB) calls on Georgian authorities and Batumi clergy to fully explore and investigate the bodies found on April 5 in Batumi.

SOVLAB has issued three recommendations to the government and clergy:

• The materials should be public and largely available to researchers
• Experts should be allowed to study the remains
• If the remains are of those shot in the Soviet period, the government should start an investigation and document the process

Otherwise the Soviet Past Research Laboratory says it is too early to declare if the remains belong to people repressed in 1937-1938.

The Agency of Muslims of All Georgia also has three requests to the Georgian government regarding the issue.

Mufti of All Georgia Beglar Kashibadze stated that a DNA analysis should be conducted on all the remains, and if the method fails to identify the deceased, the remains should be laid to rest on a neutral cemetery and the ceremony should not coincide with any religious dates. 

There are many Muslims in the list of the victims,” he said, adding the Agency of Muslims is ready to contribute to the cost of the DNA analysis. 

The bodies of over 150 people allegedly repressed in 1937-1938 during Stalin’s reign were found in Georgia’s seaside resort of Batumi at #338 Pridon Khalvashi street on April 5.

The clergy said the bodies will be laid to rest on April 21 on the territory of the No. 3 military base in Batumi.