Australian citizen found dead in Tbilisi after hours of search
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
MOnday, August 2
Australian citizen, Shanae Brooke, who lived and worked in Georgia as a teacher disappeared on Friday, July 30. Even though there was no official information available on the disappearance of the woman, her friends were talking about her being kidnapped. Her body was found in Mtatsminda park later on Saturday.
Brooke had lived in Georgia and worked as an English teacher for over a year. She left her house on Friday to take a walk in Mtatsminda Park. Shortly after talking to her friend on the phone, she called again. The friend reported that the victim was screaming at someone, asking them to take their hands off of her.
The police confirmed the identity of the body found on Mtatsminda later Saturday. The investigation is underway under the article of premeditated murder.
“Officers of the Tbilisi Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are investigating the death of an Australian citizen under Article 108 of the Criminal Code. Law enforcers are actively conducting operative investigations to identify and arrest the culprit,” reads the statement of the MIA.
Elene Khoshtaria, the founder of the party Droa, stated that in Georgia, many have lost the feeling of safety and security after the events of July 5.
Tbilisi mayoral candidate Nika Melia, chairman of the United National Movement, also responded to the murder of an Australian citizen in Tbilisi. He said that every day, Tbilisi is becoming a dangerous city to live in. Melia said that Tbilisi 'is full of life only for criminals.'
The information about the Australian citizen missing was spread on Facebook, with thousands of people involved in the searches. Locals in Tbilisi as well police and firemen were looking for the woman for hours.
The body of the woman was transferred to the National Bureau of Examination. At the time of writing, there are no official statements made by officials about the details of the murder.
The woman, 31, was working in Georgia as an English teacher for over a year.
