LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau makes statement, following the comments on TV Pirveli program "Reaction" on May 10, regarding the forensic medical examination of Archil Tatunashvili. Firstly, death of Archil Tatunashvili is a tragedy for every expert of the Bureau as it is for the citizens of Georgia.
We would like to give explanations regarding the examination procedures. The public has been frequently interested, especially in resonance cases, regarding the absence of “primary” or "intermediate" medical examination reports.
Examination reports are documents prepared by the relevant examiners on the bases of the research, which answers the questions referred to the forensic expertise. The examination is performed based on materials presented by customers. The issuance of the report is possibly only after the research is fully completed. Thus, there are no "primary “or "intermediate" reports.
In addition, we would like to clarify, that forensic examination report belongs to the person/organization submitting the request. Examination carried out for investigation purposes is a property of an investigative authority. National Forensics Bureau is not authorized to comment on criminal cases or transmit information related to examination results to unauthorized person/organization except the cases assigned by law.
We would like to emphasize, that National Forensic Bureau employees are highly qualified professionals, at the same time they are Georgian citizens with high social responsibilities, and important issues concerning our nation are as significant to the Bureau experts as it is to our society.
Once again we express our deepest condolences to Archil Tatunashvili tragic death. We would like to assure society that, medical examiners of the Bureau perform their duty with high professionalism and issue examination reports complied with international standards.