A month has passed since the tragic death of an 18-year-old woman in Tbilisi. On July 31, volunteers, law enforcement officials and the public found the body of Australian citizen Shanae B. Edwards who had gone missing the day before while hiking near Mtatsminda.
The only news we have heard since then is that an investigation is under way under Article 108, which is a “premeditated killing” in the Criminal Code. The results of the forensic examination are still to be released.
A group of feminists from Georgia and Russia, as well as many locals, were shocked by this far from unique case of femicide.
On September 1, activists gathered at the trail leading to Mtatsminda Park in order to honor Shanae and draw attention to the issue of violence against women. They also wanted to remind the Georgian authorities that they had a duty to investigate and prevent gender-based crimes.
They sang the folk song ‘In The Pines’, which is a murder-ballad.
“In the ballad the way a woman’s story is told is like she did something that society would judge her for – maybe she flirted or cheated or stayed up too late or maybe she didn’t return a guy’s favor. This story of a gruesome murder is told in harmony and almost crooning. It only adds to its creepiness.
“We would like to remind the Georgian authorities that they have a duty to investigate this case and to prevent gender based crimes.
By Ana Dumbadze
Related Story: Shanae’s Tragic Death: An Investigation is Underway
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