Kvaratskheliya's relatives question his suicide

Relatives found bruises on the body of Irakli Kvaratskheliya, who died after being detained in Abkhazia. He was very religious and could hardly commit suicide, his relatives in Georgia and Abkhazia assert.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 10, a Georgian citizen, Irakli Kvaratskheliya, died after being detained during an attempt to cross the Abkhazian border. Eyewitnesses reported that he was beaten up after detention. Georgian medical experts found traces of a rope on his body.

Irakli Kvaratskheliya's relatives refuse to believe that he had committed suicide – he was a very religious person.

"I have no idea how he could commit suicide, being a very believing Orthodox Christian. When Irakli's body was brought home and examined, it turned out that he had bruises on his arms, legs, and in the abdomen. There was a trace of a blow on the left eyebrow," said Paata Uzarashvili, Irakli's half-brother.

Paata has no idea why Irakli went to Abkhazia. Since Russian border guards began controlling the dividing line, it has become more difficult for Georgian citizens to cross it. Kvaratskheliya, who spoke Russian poorly and drank a little on that day, could painfully react to border guards' provocation and come into conflict with them, Paata has suggested.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 27, 2019 at 11:53 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.