Rescuers Still Searching for Missing Young Footballer

The rescuers of the Emergency Management Service of Georgia are still searching for a 19-year-old footballer Giorgi Shakarashvili, a player of FC Saburtalo, who went missing in unclear circumstances 4 days ago.

Rescue operations have been conducted continuously in the rivers of Mtkvari and Aragvi, in the vicinity of the town of Mtskheta.

The family of Shakarashvili applied to the Agency about the disappearance of the football player on June 19.

Reportedly, he attended a party held in one of the summer houses near Tbilisi together with several friends, where a confrontation occurred between guests. 

Giorgi, as a sportsman, is said to have refrained from getting involved in the conflict and left the party with his friends. They were planning to return to Tbilisi; however, a group of young people from the party followed them, forcing them to get in a car. Giorgi tried to escape, and since then he has been missing.

Rescuers started to search for him in the river, supposing that a frightened boy might have fallen in the water while trying to hide. His bag and personal items have been found on the river bank. 

Police are working on several versions regarding what could have happened to him, including a suspicion that he might have been kidnapped by attackers. His relatives hope that he might be still hiding somewhere. 

By Ana Dumbadze 

Photo: Emergency Management Service