Prosecutor’s Office: '19-year-old footballer Shakarashvili’s death was caused by drowning'

An autopsy has shown 19-year-old footballer Giorgi Shakarashvili’s death was caused by drowning, says the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office.

Shakarashvili also sustained injuries to his head, upper and lower lip, on the right elbow and waist. There are several injuries on his stomach, groin and other areas. These injuries were sustained before death.

• Police have carried out more than 450 investigative activities in death case of 19-year-old footballer Shakarashvili

Starting today Shakarashvili’s death case will be qualified as a group homicide investigation under aggravating circumstances.

The truth must be found and all the offenders must be punished in accordance with the law… Given the sensitivity and complexity to the case, the Prosecutor’s Office calls on everyone to refrain from spreading unverified information”, reads an official statement.

Giorgi Shakarashvili’s body was found in the river Aragvi after a four-day search, on June 22. He went missing while at a friend’s birthday party in Mtskheta, a town outside of Tbilisi, early on June 19.

The case has several witnesses, including a photographer, who told police that a brawl took place at a party, though Shakarashvili was not involved in the incident.

17 individuals have been detained in the case of the death of the 19-year-old footballer.