The International Day of the Disappeared was marked in Gori

Lado Bitchashvili, Shida Kartli

There are more than 2 200 missing people in Georgia who disappeared as a result of the wars from 1990 to 2008 . One of them is Gulnazi Devidze’s brother, who has not contacted the family since August 2, 1990. The reserve officer participated in the Abkhazian War and went missing in Gagra. 

“My brother disappeared 24 years ago. Today, we, family members of the disappeared, gather and share our memories and emotions”, - Devidze said. 

On August 30, the International Day of the Disappeared has been marked worldwide since 1983. Georgia first marked the day in 2011. The family members of the missing people gathered to commemorate the relatives in the Gori Recreation and Culture Park. Diana Japaridze, the representative of the Red Cross International Committee, explained that there are up to 100 people lost during the armed conflict in 1990 and the war in 2008.

 

“We have to remember the people, who were lost during the armed conflicts, also we have to remember their families and support them. The Red Cross International Committee helps the families in different ways. With our support, the family committees were created, who will advocate the problems of the families in the society”, - Diana Japaridze said. 

“Georgia celebrates the Day for the 5th time. There are people lost during both armed conflicts in Shida Kartli. The idea behind the celebration is that on the one hand we support the missing people’s families and, on the other hand, we remind the society that we have missed people and their family members, who bear the pain and deserve sympathy”, - Ketevan Bidzinashvili, the representative of the Step to the Future, explained.

 

The International Day of the Disappeared was marked with the support of the foundation Expectation, family committees of the missing people and Red Cross International Committee. The Day was marked in Gori, Tbilisi, Tskaltubo, Batumi and Zugdidi.