Congo-Captured Georgian Pilot’s Family Holds Protest Rally
Family members and friends of Georgian pilot Soso Osorauli, who was captured by the Congolese rebels in January, held a protest rally at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (MFA) on Sunday.
The demonstrators called on the MFA, Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry, to create a joint task-force that will go to Congo and find out what has really happened to Osorauli.
The family of the Georgian pilot says they were told by the MFA that Osorauli was killed. However, they still believe him to be alive.
“We were informed by the Georgians in Congo that he is alive. This situation has been ongoing for nearly a year now. We demand the creation of a group to go over there. We also demand the pilot’s brother, Giorgi Osorauli, be included in this task-force,” Osarauli’s family members stated at the protest.
Later, the Foreign Ministry released a statement regarding, saying they are “doing their best to get to the truth”.
“From the very beginning, all possible mechanisms as its disposal were used by the MFA to release and return the captured pilot to Georgia. His family and all interested persons were also informed about all steps taken by the Ministry,” the statement reads.
The Ministry added that when the news about Osorauli’s death was leaked, they obtained a photograph, which was examined by experts and shown to the family representative, adding even after this, that the MFA did not condemn the release of this information, nor carry out any verification for it.
“Due to the serious situation caused by the hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is still impossible to fully verify the information. We continue working with all relevant international organizations, as well as with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, regarding the issue,” the MFA stated.
The Ministry also said that despite the information received from various sources about Osorauli, it is not feasible to confirm his death.
“We share the concerns of family members in this worrying, uncertain situation, but we assure all that the state institutions are doing their best to obtain the truth, thus there is no reason to directly involve family members. As before, the family of the pilot will be informed about every step taken by the state,” the statement reads.
The MFA and the Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed in February that one Georgian had been wounded and another captured after two helicopters of the Congo Air Force were shot down by rebels on January 27.
Georgia’s MoD stated that the reason for the Georgian citizens’ presence in Congo was unknown, but added that Osorauli once served in the Georgian armed forces, choosing to quit in 2015 for personal reasons.
In late May, the MFA of Georgia held a special briefing, wherein Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Zviad Gonadze said that there were rumors that an attack took place between the opposed parties in DR Congo and Osorauli was killed, but he added this information had yet to be confirmed officially.
On July 5, Georgian channel Iberia TV released a video of Osorauli who addressed his family members and asked them not to believe the accusation that he had killed many people.
Beka Dvali, the Ambassador of Georgia in South Africa, said that the video was old and was shot in May. Since then, no official news about Osorauli has been made known to the family or the media.
Thea Morrison