The State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tea Akhvlediani, attended the civil funeral for individuals repatriated from occupied Abkhazia who went missing during the armed conflicts of the 1990s.

Through the collaborative efforts of the State Minister’s Office and the International Committee of the Red Cross, six missing persons – 5 military personnel and 1 civilian - have been identified and returned to their families within a coordination framework involving both Georgian and Abkhaz participants.

The civil funeral, which has been held at Trinity Cathedral for the 2nd consecutive day, honours those who lost their lives during the conflicts. Two fallen soldiers will be laid to rest at Digomi Brothers Cemetery, while the others will be interred with military honours at various locations, according to their families’ wishes.

Within the framework of the mechanisms for searching for those missing from the armed conflicts of the 1990s and the August 2008 war, the active phase of work began in 2013. To date, the remains of 623 people have been found, of which 323 have been identified. About 2,000 people are still considered missing.