Ombudswoman slams officials for their ‘early conclusions’ on death of IDP

Georgian public advocate Nino Lomjaria has slammed Georgian officials for making ‘early statements’ on the recent death of a 52-year-old IDP Zurab Chichoshvili in Tbilisi, connecting the death with an accident. 

Chichoshvili, who was displaced from the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, allegedly jumped from the ninth floor yesterday. 

He, along with about 120 families who are currently living in the run-down building in the outskirts of Tbilisi, in a former sanatorium named Kartli, was demanding relocation. 

Witnesses and relatives claim that Chichoshvili wished to attract attention by ‘his death.’ 

Lomjaria says that making comments by top officials that it was an accident before the investigation is over and when the reason could be different, is wrong and may hamper a proper investigation into the case.

She has also called on the government to relocate the IDPs as soon as possible. 

The Georgian Health Ministry says that the IDPs living in the former sanatorium Kartli will receive new housing ‘unconditionally’ this year.