NEWS

The Batumi Tragedy: Residential Block Collapses, Claims 9 Lives

BY ANA DUMBADZE

On October 8, Georgia was shaken by a tragedy that occurred in the seaside city of Batumi in Adjara, a place always associated with happy times and fun memories: a 5-storey block of fl ats collapsed on 26 May Street, claiming the lives of nine residents, including three minors. Four members died from one family: a mother, her two children, and her brother-in-law.

Up to 400 fi refi ghters and rescuers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, along with representatives of various police units, worked non-stop for 29 hours during the search-and-rescue operation.

Rescuers managed to save two children from the ruins, and their condition is stable.

The collapse was caused by repair works being carried out by a fl at owner on the fi rst fl oor, during which workers damaged the retaining wall of the building.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested three people for the tragic incident – the abovementioned fl at owner, Zaur Budatov, and two workers.

“As a result of investigative and operative activities carried out by the Adjara Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, three persons were detained in the course of investigating the collapse of the residential building in Batumi: the owner of the fi rst fl oor apartment Z.B. (DoB 1975), Kh.S. (DoB 1962), and G.S. (DoB 1992),” the Ministry reported in a statement.

“The committed crime envisages from 2 to 10 years of imprisonment.

“The investigation established that Z.B., the owner of an apartment on the fi rst fl oor of a residential building located on 26 May Street in Batumi, had hired Kh.S. and G.S. for construction-renovation works in the apartment. Under his direction and in gross violation of safety rules, construction and renovation works were carried out in the apartment which led to the collapse of one of the entrances of the building on October 8 of the current year.

“An investigation is underway under Article 240, Part II and Article 187, Part III of the Criminal Code of Georgia on the facts of a breach of safety regulations during construction or other works, and damage or destruction of property belonging to others, which results in loss of human life and grave consequences.”

Reportedly, Zaur Budatov did apply to the Public Registry for a permit to conduct his planned repair works, but he started the works prior to receiving said permit. Budatov manages a Batumi casino and had bought the fl at in September.

According to local media outlet Batumelebi, the national public registry agency discovered a problem in Budatov’s paperwork on October 8, the day the building collapsed, and stopped the permit process, citing a lack of suffi cient documents, among them the lack of a blueprint for the basement and fi rst fl oor.

By the time permission was denied, the building had already collapsed.

A COUNTRY MOURNS

To express their sorrow at the tragic loss of human life, citizens lit candles and brought fl owers and toys to the fences erected in front of the ruins of the building.

Due to the tragedy in Batumi, the event planned to celebrate Tbilisoba (the Day of Tbilisi) this month was canceled, and the amount allocated for the festivities is to be transferred to a fund set up for the families of the victims.

“A tragedy that has united the whole country is a mutual pain for everyone. Tbilisi is a city that has always shown an example of support in diffi cult times,” Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze noted.

“Even today, in these diffi cult times, Tbilisi stands by Batumi. Our team has decided that the event which was supposed to be held in a TV format to celebrate Tbilisoba will be canceled. The allocated money will be transferred to the Fund for Assistance to the Families of the Victims of the Tragedy in Batumi,” he said.

Monday October 11, was declared a Day of Mourning in Georgia, and national fl ags were lowered on buildings across the country.

“I express my deep sorrow over the tragedy in Batumi. My condolences go out to the family members and relatives of the victims,” Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said. “Together with them, the whole of Georgia mourns this horrible tragedy. The state will provide all relevant assistance to the victims of the incident.

“All persons whose guilt is revealed will be punished with the full force of the law. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already detained three people and the investigation is ongoing,” he added.

Unfortunately, such illegal constructions and repair works are a common problem in Batumi, Tbilisi and other locations throughout Georgia. Further, buildings designed and fast-built in Soviet times to last just 15-25 years still house thousands. The unnecessary deaths in Batumi last week have once again shone a spotlight on Georgia’s construction, maintenance and inspection failings. If neither citizens nor the state start to pay more attention to this issue, future tragedies will be unavoidable.

Prosecutor’s Offi ce Charges 4 for Murder and Robbery of British Citizen

BY ANA DUMBADZE

The Prosecutor’s Offi ce of Georgia has charged four people with the fact of murder and robbery of a British citizen in Gori, and one person with the fact of not reporting a crime.

The investigative agency charged G.B, Z.F, G.K. and G.O. for the murder and robbery of British citizen, Thomas Kennedy on October 7.

Charges were also fi led against 23-yearold Vasil Okropiridze for not reporting the crime.

“The investigation conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed that on October 7, 2021 Z.F, G.K., G.O. and G.B. decided to rob British citizen, T.K., and told V.O about their plans, who refused to take part in the crime. On the same day, in Gori, near a railway station, at night, G.B., Z.F., G.K. And G.O. forcibly seized T.K.’s mobile phone and bank card. To cover up the crime, the defendants threw Kennedy, who was unconscious, into the River Mtkvari, as a result of which the latter died.

“After that, Z.F, G.K., G.O. and G.B. again informed V.O about the incident, who did not report this particularly serious crime to law enforcement,” reads the statement released by the Prosecutor’s Offi ce.

The law enforcers detained Z.F, G.K., G.O. and G.B. on October 10. They face 13 to 17 years in prison, while V.O. faces 3 to 7 years in prison if convicted.

The defendants allegedly robbed and killed the 28-year-old British citizen, Thomas Kennedy, who was living in Georgia, after a confrontation occurred after they had drinks together in a cafe in Gori.

“The investigation established that on October 7 of the current year, the detainees were drinking alcohol in an underground passage in the town of Gori and were joined by a foreign citizen – Thomas Kennedy (DoB 1993). The defendants later moved together with him to a bar in Gori and continued to drink alcohol, during which a verbal confrontation took place between the currently detained persons and Kennedy. After the mentioned confrontation, the aforementioned individuals went to an area near to Mtkvari River, where Z.F., G.O., G.K. and G.B. physically assaulted Kennedy and threw him unconscious into the river to conceal evidence of the crime. The detainees fl ed the scene after committing the crime.

“The investigation also established that the detainee, Vasil Okropiridze was informed regarding the crime, although failed to inform the law enforcers.

“Kennedy’s body was washed ashore by the Mtkvari River on October 8 of the current year, near the village of Kvakhvreli in Gori Municipality.

“As a result of complex operativeinvestigative and search activities, the law enforcers identifi ed the persons involved in the crime and arrested them.

“The fact of premeditated murder committed by a group under aggravated circumstances and not reporting a grave crime is being investigated under Article 109, Part II, Sub-paragraph “E” and Article 376, Part II of the Criminal Code of Georgia,” reported the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

People this week collected 48,000 Euros through a GoFundMe page to help the family of Thomas Kennedy, to bring his body home. "On Friday the 9th of October, our beautiful Tom was found in the Mtkvari River in Georgia. He died brutally and tragically at the hands of fi ve evil men. We are absolutely devastated," his family announced. "There are no words. Life will never be the same again without our beautiful talented boy."

Tom Kennedy. Source: Netgazeti