Two years ago, Anastasia met and fell in love with Zurab.  He told her that he was divorcing his wife.  A few months later he showed her his divorce certificate and offered to marry her. Anastasia got pregnant, which made Zurab very happy. After the birth of the child, Zurab rented an apartment and they started living together. It wasn't long before Zurab started to return home infrequently and irritably, and he finally requested a DNA test for the child. The test result confirmed that the baby was really his.

When the baby was 8 months old, Zurab asked Anastasia to let him take the child to the village for a few days to introduce it to his parents and his children. He said it would be better for them to get to know the child and then he would marry Anastasia. After a week, Zurab stopped answering Anastasia’s calls and sent an text message saying that he wouldn't return the child, he would not pay the rent any more so she had to vacate the apartment immediately and that since she didn't have a flat or a job, the child would be better off with his father. He said there was no point appealing to the courts, and reminded her that he was quite a famous and influential person in his region.

Anastasia arrived to the village to see the child, but they hid the child, called the police and used false testimony to get a restraining order against Anastasia (she was forbidden to go near the child or Zurab). Hopeless, Anastasia went back to Tbilisi.  Fortunately, a friend recommended she get in touch with Mkurnali. 

The only way to get the child back was through court. But before that Mkurnali helped Anastasia get her life back on track so that the courts could not deny her custody. It was difficult to find her a job, since she had a young baby, but Mkurnali had a stroke of luck.  They found an elderly woman who was looking for a live-in carer. Mrs Lili liked Anastasia very much, was outraged by her story and offered her the job. She and her child were given the best room in the flat (Mkurnali helped set it up for the child) and she was paid a salary of GEL 800 (around £190).

So, Mkurnali was able to present the court with a copy of the employment contract, photos of the home, proof that Mrs Lili had the means to pay Anastasia, and a report from Social Services on the child’s living conditions. Mkurnali won the case and after three months of separation mother and baby were reunited.

Only Mkurnali with its legal expertise, compassion and extensive contacts could have resolved this case so successfully.  We are very grateful to all of you who help us fund the legal service so they can continue their winning work.