Mother of slain teacher Giga Avaliani describes witnessing her son’s murder

The mother of 28-year-old teacher Giga Avaliani, who was killed in Tbilisi’s Temka district, described the moment she saw video evidence of her son’s death as “shocking” and “unbearable.”

 Speaking after a court hearing on Friday, Eka Kupatadze said that the perpetrators are “diseased and bloodthirsty” and that there was no possibility of rehabilitation.

“I watched today how my son was killed. I had not seen this episode of his murder before, and the shock was immense. I could not remain in the courtroom for long,” Kupatadze said. She added that the family had long suspected that Avaliani had been incapacitated with an electric shock before being struck.

Kupatadze also referred to the role of the accused’s relatives, saying that suspect Aleksandre Gabashvili was aware of the violent acts through a film stored on his phone and that warnings from family members did not prevent the abuse. 

She also noted that symbols associated with neo-Nazi groups were being kept and prepared for disposal by another accused family member, highlighting a disturbing focus on property rather than the victims’ safety.

“These are bloodthirsty, diseased people. Prison only makes sense if there is a chance for correction - but there isn’t in their case,” she said.

Four individuals have been arrested in connection with Avaliani’s murder.