Teo Khuchua, Head of Oil Products Examination Unit at the Department of Chemical and Narcological Examination of LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensic Bureau participated in the online conference. The conference was held on 8-10 September, 2020 and was organized by Euro Petroleum Consultants – EPC.

LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensic Bureau has identified remains of 13 persons gone missing during the armed conflict in Abkhazia in 1992-1993. Georgian soldiers will be buried with military funeral honors on 15 August, 2020. Within the frameworkof the agreement between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRS) and the Bureau, in order to identify persons gone missing during the war of Abkhazia and armed conflict of Tskhinvali, 3780 DNA samples have been taken from family members of persons gone missing. Out of this, 3389 samples have been genotyped for further identification of the deceased. Along with the Department of Forensic Biology, the Department of Forensic Medical Examination is involved in the identification process of persons who have gone missing. Forensic medical experts of the Bureau participate in the process of exhumation as well as laboratory analysis.

LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensic Bureau, first of all, we would like to express sadness on the tragic passing of Tamar Bachaliashvili and conveys sincerest condolences to the family. The National Forensic Bureau clarifies that the postmortem examination of the deceased Bachaliashvili has continued at the Department of Forensic Medical Examination of the Bureau until now and is finished now. The examination was conducted by experts from the National Forensic Bureau and a designee from Bachaliashvili’s family attended the process. At this point, the Bureau is ready to hand over the body to the family. The information that the relatives of the deceased asked the Bureau for ice and they were refused is incorrect.

Employees of LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensic Bureau, as well as citizens of Georgia, are saddened by the tragic death of Giorgi Shakarashvili. On behalf of the Bureau’s staff, we would like to convey sincere condolences to the deceased family. Due to high public interest, the media provides a detailed coverage of this high-profile case, actively discussing issues related to forensic medical examination and other types of expertise. Numerous versions of the case spread around that unfortunately have nothing to do with the truth.