President Zourabichvili condemns murder of transgender woman in Tbilisi

President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili on Thursday expressed condemnation following the murder of Kesaria Abramidze, a transgender woman, who was found dead in her Tbilisi home on Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, Zourabichvili decried the killing as a “horrible murder” and “denial of humanity,” urging Georgian society to reflect on the hatred and divisions that enable such acts of violence.

“This will wake up our society… buried in hatred, hatred that allows the enemy all the manipulations that weaken and separate us,” she wrote. Zourabichvili further described Abramidze’s death as a “tragic loss”, emphasizing her passing could serve to “humanize us and make us Christian.”

Abramidze was reportedly killed with special cruelty by her former boyfriend.

The police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with the murder, charging him with premeditated murder under Article 109 of the Criminal Code, which covers aggravated circumstances. The suspect faces a potential sentence of 16 to 20 years or life imprisonment.

Initially, the case was investigated under Article 108, covering premeditated murder, but the charges were later upgraded.