Rescuers Searching for Missing Teenager in Svaneti

A week has passed since rescuers began searching for a missing 13-year-old boy in the Svaneti region, western Georgia. 

Reportedly, Ilia Pilpani left his home in Svaneti on a bicycle on July 18 at about 11 o'clock.

As his relatives describe, "Ilia has a Slavic appearance, light skin and hair color. His height is about 165-170 centimeters."

He does not know Georgian, he speaks Russian. Ilia lived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and moved to Svaneti with his father almost a year ago.

Rescuers of the Emergency Management Service, police and the local population are involved in the search, however, no trace has been found at this point.

Search operations are currently underway not only in Svaneti but throughout the country. 

The investigation has been launched into kidnapping.