Mother of slain teacher Avaliani backs Bachaliashvili family's call for new investigation

The mother of slain Georgian teacher Giga Avaliani has voiced support for the family of late programmer Tamar Bachaliashvili, who is seeking a renewed investigation into her 2020 death.

Eka Kupatadze went to the Prosecutor's Office to support Bacaliashvili's family and said she would stand by them as they seek answers about her daughter's death.

"I want them to know that Giga Avaliani's grieving mother will stand by them," Kupatadze said. "If they need one person, that person will always be me."

She said the families of young people killed or found dead should not have to accept unanswered questions and called for all those potentially responsible to be identified and prosecuted.

"All possible suspects must be identified and everyone must be brought before the court," Kupatadze said.

Bachaliashvili's family has asked the Prosecutor's Office to reopen the investigation into her death. Kupatadze and the mothers of detained activists attended the Prosecutor's Office in support of the family.

Bachaliashvili, a 23-year-old programmer, disappeared on 18 July 2020. She was found dead several days later inside her car in a forest in Tetritskaro.

Investigators concluded that Bacaliashvili had died by suicide and closed the case. Her family has continued to challenge that conclusion and is now seeking a new investigation.