Authorities respond to Adjara Muslims' demands to make DNA examination of repression victims

The authorities of Adjara have allocated money for DNA examinations of the remains of those executed during the years of repressions, as demanded by local Muslims. Relatives of repression victims believe that the remains should be buried altogether, regardless of the religion of those murdered.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April 2019, in Batumi, common graves of those assassinated during repressions in 1937-1938 were found. Remains of about 150 people were found in the graves. According to Beglar Kamashidze, Mufti of All Georgia, most of the remains belong to the people who professed Islam.

According to Irakli Khvadagiani, an activist of the NGO "Research Laboratory of the Soviet Past" (SovLab), the removal of remains without prior investigation is a violation.

Residents of Batumi told about their ancestors, who could be buried there.

In particular, Zeinab Diasamidze, a doctor, said that her grandfather, an engineer Djemal Diasamidze, spoke out against the Soviet regime in 1921 and was arrested in 1937. According to her story, among those shot dead there was also her uncle, Ilyas Megrelidze, the chief architect of Batumi.

Ms Diasamidze is against the burial of her grandfather, uncle and other repression victims being buried separately – into a Muslim or a Christian cemetery.