Reconciliation Minister opens events marking International Day of Disappeared, staged across Tbilisi and four regions of Georgia

The State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tea Akhvlediani, has opened a series of commemorative events dedicated to the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Organised and supported by the Office of the State Minister, the observances are taking place in the capital and four regions across Georgia.

According to the Office of the State Minister, Tea Akhvlediani addressed those gathered at the Memorial to Disappeared Persons on Tamarashvili Avenue in Tbilisi. In her speech, she emphasised the profound importance of the state program dedicated to accounting for those missing as a result of the armed conflicts of the 1990s and the August 2008 Russo-Georgian War. The minister also underscored efforts to enhance its long-term sustainability and effectiveness, as well as broader initiatives to honour the memory of the disappeared.

“Marking this date on such a scale holds profound significance for the families of the missing. It is immensely important for them to know that their loved ones, who were lost fighting for the unity of our homeland, are not forgotten, and that our country and future generations will forever honour their sacrifice. I wish to express my deepest heartfelt sympathy to these families for this heavy burden they carry, and I wish them strength and fortitude.

“Today’s observances are also crucial for casting a wide light on the highly complex humanitarian challenge that involuntary disappearance poses. To address this, relevant state agencies—with heightened responsibility and determination—are carrying out daily operations in close coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Our joint aim is to trace as many missing individuals as possible and bring them home to their families. I extend my gratitude to everyone involved in this extraordinarily difficult process, first and foremost to the families, our partner organisations, and the relevant state bodies at both central and local levels, including for their contributions to today’s events,” State Minister Tea Akhvlediani stated.

The events, initiated by the Office of the State Minister, brought together family members of the missing, as well as representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross, local self-government authorities, line state agencies, and civil society organisations across Tbilisi, Gori, Kutaisi, Batumi, and Zugdidi.

Nearly 1,900 people remain unaccounted for in Georgia following the armed conflicts of the 1990s and the August 2008 Russo-Georgian War, leaving their families in agonising uncertainty for decades regarding the fate of their loved ones. International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed annually on 30 August, aims to commemorate the missing and raise public awareness of the ongoing issue of involuntary disappearances.