Abkhaz blogger Daur Buava found dead in Tbilisi

Daur Buava, a 30-year-old Abkhaz blogger and activist, was found dead in a rented apartment in the Digomi district of Tbilisi. His body was reportedly discovered on August 27, several days after he was last seen alive on August 23.

Buava, known on TikTok as @tarielovich78, was a prominent advocate for reconciliation between Georgians and Abkhaz people. He moved to Tbilisi-controlled territory in 2021 and was granted Georgian citizenship in 2022. His content often challenged propaganda regarding the conflict, promoting the idea of a united state.

Due to his activism, the de facto authorities in Sukhumi had previously charged him with high treason in 2022, alleging his videos damaged the sovereignty and national security of Abkhazia.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry has launched an investigation under Article 115 of the Criminal Code, which covers incitement to suicide and is used when death occurs under unclear circumstances. Tamta Mikeladze, director of the Social Justice Centre, noted that Buava had received numerous threats due to his work and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death.