From January 4, delegation from the Polish Institute of National Remembrance  (IPN) invited by the Eparchy of Batumi and Lazeti and Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI),  is examining and excavating human remains discovered in Adjara from the sixth mass terror.

On February 3, Polish specialists fully excavated №6 mass grave, after which the process of exhumation began. Due to archaeological excavations specialists discovered skeletal remains of 29 victims.

Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) examined enforcement acts preserved in the archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and discovered that the number of remains found in the mentioned grave coincides with the number of repressed in the enforcement act of March 15, 1938.

According to the document, by the order of People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Goglidze (March 11, 1938) and People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Zakaraia  - 29 people were shot at 4am, on March 15, 1938.

1. Ashrafian Philip - b. 1868

2. Asaturian Arutun - b. 1906

3. Andghuladze Ilarion - b. 1887

4. Abashidze Ismail - b. 1904

5. Alekperov Hussein - b. 1869

6. Buleishvili Gerasime - b. 1884

7. Batt Mikhail - b. 1868

8. Vereshko Anton - b. 1863

9. Goliadze Parthen - b. 1878

10. Gagua Serapion - b. 1885

11. Gordeladze Giorgi - b. 1893

12. Gobronidze Irakli - b. 1883

13. Ershov Evgeny - b. 1890

14. Julchenko Simon - b. 1905

15. Kromlidi Philip - b. 1903

16. Lopatin Timofey - b. 1892

17. Mkhchian Aram - b. 1898

18. Manjgaladze (Popova) Mira - b. 1908

19. Nikolaishvili Nikoloz - b. 1881

20. Ruseishvili Irakli - b. 1897

21. Tolmachev Damian - b. 1890

22. Tant-Oghli Mevlud - b. 1892

23. Todua Leonide - b. 1893

24. Kharaishvili Simon - b. 1895

25. Khalvashi Abdulla - b. 1905

26. Tsetskhladze Riza - b. 1917

27. Tsintsadze Grigol - b. 1905

28. Chaganava Niloz - b. 1910

29. Chkhaidze Gedevan - b. 1908

The remains are found with their hands clasped behind their backs, with a gunshot wound in the skull. Wound is similar to the skeletal remains of people discovered  in the similar places, shot in other countries during the Great Soviet Terror. In addition, the graves, whth the remains of dozens of people placed together in large pre-dug pits (onto which supposedly a single mass of land was dumped), are identical to similar mass graves found in other countries.

Soviet coins (kopeekas) minted from 1930 to 1936, buttons, comb, bottles, shoes and clothing waste are also found in the mass grave.

Anthropological study will start after the separation of the remains. Proficiency and huge experience of IPN experts gives us the foundation to believe that in the near future remains of the victims discovered in the mass grave will be fully examined.

On March 15, 1938 30-year-old woman - Manjgaladze (Popova) Mira, was also executed. This may serve as the important factor for the study -  if her remains are identified the date of grave will be 100% accurate.

According to a research conducted by IDFI in the archives, a total of 1,050 people were shot dead in Adjara in 1937-1938 as a result of various punitive operations (such as the Kulaki operation, Stalinist lists, national operations, etc.). The study found that among these 1,050 people, 11 were women.

IDFI believes that awareness raising campaigns are necessary, especially for schoolchildren and students. Government, clergy, specialists and other organisations working on these topics should participate in the process, to disseminate information about the victims of the 1937-38 repressions.

The ongoing work is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida.