An independent forensic examination will be conducted for the deceased Abkhaz blogger Daur Buava, lawyer Natia Mezvrishvili told the IPN news agency.
The examination of the deceased blogger’s body is being conducted at the Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau, after which it will be transferred to his friend’s home in Tbilisi.
According to the lawyer, she is actively cooperating with the investigation to establish the truth and clarify all circumstances surrounding the incident.
«Until the forensic medical examination is completed, we cannot talk about the cause of death, and no one can say for certain what caused it. Naturally, we will examine all circumstances. Both we and the investigators are pursuing all leads to establish the truth. As for the suspicious circumstances, the investigation is currently underway at this stage, we are also actively engaging with the investigative authorities, and detailed information will be released later.»
When asked about the identity of the detainee and whether the lawyer had been in contact with members of Daur’s family, Mezvrishvili replied that at this stage she is in contact exclusively with the investigation.
«According to their information, the detained person is his female friend. However, this is only the investigators’ version; other details are currently unknown to us,» Mezvrishvili noted.
The lawyer also commented on the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ information stating that Buava and the detained woman had used drugs, after which she left him in a helpless condition, stressing that this too is «strictly the investigation’s version.»
Speaking with journalists, Mezvrishvili also confirmed that prior to his death, the Abkhaz blogger had received threats «in connection with his activities — both verbal and physical in nature.» Therefore, she did not rule out that Daur’s death could be linked to his professional activities.
«Daur Buava was a blogger who actively produced video content about Georgia and relations with Abkhazians, which naturally caused discontent on the Abkhaz side.»
As a reminder, 32-year-old blogger from Abkhazia Daur Buava was found dead in Tbilisi on August 28. CCTV footage indicates that Buava was last seen entering the house on the 23rd.
In 2022, it was revealed that the de facto State Security Service of Abkhazia had charged the blogger with «high treason.» A search was conducted at his home at that time. In 2021, he had arrived in Tbilisi from Tkvarcheli and never returned.
Since 2021, Buava had been posting TikTok videos focusing on friendship between Georgians and Abkhazians, prospects for peaceful coexistence, and other related topics.
The de facto State Security Service of Abkhazia previously claimed that Buava’s video materials harmed the «security and defense capability of the State of Abkhazia and were aimed at providing assistance to a hostile state against Abkhazia.»