In Georgia, a series of shocking revelations surrounding child trafficking and black-market adoptions have emerged, as families confront decades-old practices that operated under a veil of secrecy.

The case of Irina, who believed her twin sons died shortly after their birth in 1978, serves as a poignant example.

Irina was told by her doctors that her babies had not survived and was instructed to bury them in a suitcase, which she and her husband did in their backyard.

For over 40 years, the suitcase remained buried, believed to contain the remains of her children.

However, following a chance discovery by Irina's daughter Nino in a Facebook group dedicated to family reconnections, the family excavated the suitcase only to find it empty, leading to suspicions that the twins may still be alive.

Nino’s inquiry ignited a search for answers, prompted by similar accounts from other parents who had been told their children had died, yet never saw their bodies.

The issue of child trafficking in Georgia can be traced back to the Soviet era and persisted through the 2000s.

Experts have identified a significant culture of shame surrounding adoption as a key factor that allowed these practices to persist unchecked.

The societal norms discouraged questioning authority, contributing to a climate where systemic exploitation thrived with potential involvement from high-level officials in the healthcare system.

In a separate but related investigation, journalist Tamuna Museridze uncovered her own adoption story while cleaning her late mother’s house in 2016. Discovering discrepancies associated with her birth certificate led her to establish a Facebook group named 'I'm searching', where many others shared experiences of seeking lost family connections.

Museridze's efforts unveiled a network of illegal adoptions occurring across numerous hospitals in Georgia, primarily affecting those in rural areas.

Legal experts estimate that the number of victims potentially affected ranges in the tens of thousands.

Some mothers may have willingly given up their children, but many were misled, often told their newborns had died at birth and buried in non-existent cemeteries.

Human rights attorney Lia Mukhashavria asserted that the trafficking operation was systemic and existed nationwide, exacerbated by Georgia's struggles after gaining independence from the Soviet Union, which created an environment ripe for exploitation.

Authorities have struggled to address these injustices; the Georgian government has conducted investigations into child trafficking since 2003, with limited accountability achieved.

Recent updates reveal that although a new investigation was launched in September 2022, only a small number of people have been interviewed, and no prosecutions have yet taken place.

With Museridze’s Facebook group amassing over 230,000 members and continuing to gain traction, there is hope for formal recognition and redress for victims.

Museridze, along with other advocates, is prepared to pursue legal action in hopes of accountability for those involved.

As families like Irina’s seek closure, the revelations from this grassroots movement continue to expose long-standing injustices within Georgian society, prompting a re-evaluation of the past and ongoing ramifications.