Ukrainian citizen charged with leaving Daur Buava in distress, Prosecutor’s Office releases video footage
The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has charged Ukrainian citizen V.K., who was arrested in connection with the case involving the abandonment of Daur Buava, with leaving a person in distress.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, V.K. has been charged under Article 128 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns leaving a person in distress.
The Prosecutor’s Office has also released surveillance footage related to the case.
“Given the high public interest, we would like to provide the public with detailed information on the circumstances established by the investigation at this stage.
According to the investigation conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Daur Buava was living alone in a rented apartment on Kristian Stevens Street in Tbilisi’s Didi Dighomi district.
At 1:04 a.m. on August 23, V.K., an acquaintance of Buava and a Ukrainian citizen, arrived at his apartment carrying methadone. The two subsequently consumed the substance together.
According to V.K.’s statement, after taking the drug, Buava said that the amount he had consumed was insufficient and that he wanted to take more.
At around 3:00 a.m., V.K. herself became unwell and lost consciousness. In her statement to investigators, V.K. said she regained consciousness at around 9:00 a.m. on August 25 and saw that Buava was breathing heavily but was unconscious. V.K. said she was still feeling unwell, became frightened and left the apartment without notifying anyone, leaving Buava unconscious.
V.K. had a duty to care for Buava and had the opportunity to save him, but left him without assistance while he was in a life-threatening condition and unable to take measures to save himself.
A chemical examination confirmed that Buava had consumed methadone and alcohol. Methadone was also found at his residence.
Security camera footage from the entrance and stairwell of Buava’s residential building shows V.K. arriving at the apartment at 1:04 a.m. on August 23.
The footage also shows Buava leaving the building alone at 1:57 a.m. and again at 2:38 a.m. that day, returning approximately two minutes later each time. Buava does not appear on the cameras after that.
According to the footage, V.K. left Buava’s building at 9:43 a.m. on August 25. She appeared to still be unwell, and local residents in the building assisted her.
The Interior Ministry’s investigation is ongoing, with urgent procedural and investigative measures underway. Investigators have seized surveillance footage from Buava’s temporary residence and the surrounding area, as well as the mobile phones and computer equipment belonging to Buava and all persons connected to the case.
Witnesses are being interviewed, while relevant medical and other examinations have been ordered and are underway,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.
The Prosecutor’s Office said it would apply to the court within the legally prescribed period to have V.K. remanded in custody as a preventive measure.
The agency also said that, as part of the same criminal investigation, two other individuals have been arrested after drugs were found during searches of their residences. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, one of the individuals allegedly provided the narcotic substance to V.K., which she later consumed together with Daur Buava.