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Ilia Eloshvili's Family: We Categorically Rule Out Suicide

By The Messenger Staff
Friday, June 3, 2022
Former MP Zviad Kvachantiradze spreads the statement of the family of Tbilisi Vice Mayor Ilia Eloshvili on Facebook.

According to the statement, the family rules out that Eloshvili committed suicide and calls on the public to refrain from various versions.

"There was a great tragedy in our family. It is doubly painful for us the version of suicide spread on social networks, which the family categorically rules out because there was no precondition or any sign that Ilya was in a deep depression. Last Tuesday, May 31, after treatment and rehabilitation, he passed away at work.

This is confirmed by his colleagues and friends, with whom Ilya had contact on Tuesday, directly before the late evening of the tragedy, and with whom he had scheduled meetings yesterday, Wednesday, June 1, the day of his death, and throughout the current week.

We think it was inadmissible to make a statement about suicide by a high-ranking police official a couple of hours after the tragedy, which directly prompted the spread of this version and similar rumors.

In view of the above, given the situation of the family and especially Ilia's minor children, we appeal to everyone to stop public speaking about suicide and any other version on social networks or on TV until the ongoing investigation is completed and an official expert report is issued.

We thank the community for sharing our indefinite pain," the statement said.

Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi, Ilia Eloshvili, was found dead yesterday, on June 1. The cause of death is unknown.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation under Article 115 of the Criminal Code, which stipulates suicide.

Ilia Eloshvili, 47, has been working as the Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi since 2017. In 2012-2016 he was the Deputy Minister of Energy.