The Public Defender of Georgia expresses deep sorrow and sympathy over the tragic death of two young children in Batumi.

We offer our condolences to the family, relatives and all of Georgia.

Creating a safe environment for the life and health of people is the primary obligation of the State, while protecting the life and well-being of children should be the main priority of the State.

This tragedy once again indicates the State's obligation to responsibly approach urban planning, ensure the safety of public spaces and their constant monitoring in order to prevent similar tragic incidents.

The Public Defender once again expresses his condolences to the families of the deceased and calls on the relevant agencies to:

• Ensure a prompt and objective investigation in order to identify those responsible and hold them accountable as provided for by law;
• Develop effective preventive and response mechanisms to ensure safety standards in public spaces and construction-infrastructure projects.