Amy and Ano didn’t know about the existence of each other until they met at the age of 19. But this quest for truth started when they were 12.
Amy and Ano, identical twins separated at birth and adopted into different families, stumbled upon each other's existence through a series of unlikely events. It all began when Amy, at the age of 12, noticed a girl on Georgia's Got Talent who bore an uncanny resemblance to herself. The revelation took years to unfold, ultimately connecting them through TikTok and leading them to uncover a shocking truth about their past.
The twins, born a few weeks apart in Kirtskhi Maternity Hospital in 2002, delved into their shared history. Despite discrepancies in their official birth certificates, such as differing birthdates, their similarities were too striking to ignore. A mutual love for music, dance, and a shared genetic disorder deepened the mystery, pushing the twins to confront their families.
Amy's mother, unable to conceive, learned of an unwanted baby at the local hospital. A similar story unfolded for Ano's mother. Both mothers paid doctors to adopt the babies, unaware they were twins. The families believed the adoptions were legitimate amid Georgia's tumultuous times, and no one questioned the legality.
A Facebook group named Vedzeb, meaning "I'm searching" in Georgian, became a pivotal tool for Amy and Ano's quest. The group, created by journalist Tamuna Museridze, aimed to reunite families affected by illegal adoptions in Georgia. In Germany, a woman revealed she had given birth to twin girls in Kirtskhi Maternity Hospital in 2002. DNA tests confirmed their sisterhood, and the twins were eager to meet their birth mother, Aza.
Tamuna Museridze uncovered a widespread black market in adoption, spanning from the early 1950s to 2005. Organized criminals, involving individuals from various societal strata, orchestrated the trafficking of up to 100,000 babies. The victims included mothers deceived about their babies' deaths and children sold to foreign families.
In 2022, the Georgian government initiated an investigation into historic child trafficking. However, the cases' age and lost data posed significant challenges. Tamuna Museridze and human rights lawyer Lia Mukhashavria are now taking cases to the Georgian courts, seeking the right to access birth documents. Despite the hurdles, they hope these legal battles will provide closure for victims and shed light on Georgia's dark past.
Meeting their birth mother, Aza, was an emotionally charged experience for Amy, Ano, and Aza herself. Aza explained that she fell into a coma after giving birth, only to be told that her babies had died shortly afterward. The twins' revelation gave her life new meaning. While their connection remains, the sisters continue to grapple with the complexities of their shared past.
As the Georgian government grapples with the investigation's challenges, individuals like Tamuna Museridze and Lia Mukhashavria are pushing for justice through legal channels. The "I'm searching" Facebook group stands as a testament to the resilience of those affected, seeking truth and closure amid a dark chapter in Georgia's history.