TikTok Reunion: Twins Separated at Birth
In a remarkable twist of fate, two teenagers, Elene Deisadze and Anna Panchulidze, discovered via TikTok that they are identical twins who were kidnapped as babies and given up for adoption. Their story, which has captivated audiences worldwide, reveals the dark machinations of an organized kidnapping system that operated in Georgian hospitals for decades.
The Discovery and DNA Revelation
Elene Deisadze stumbled upon a TikTok video in 2022 that would change her life forever. She noticed a girl who looked exactly like her—Anna Panchulidze. After months of online communication, the two decided to take a DNA test, which confirmed they were identical twins. This revelation turned their lives upside down and prompted them to delve into the secrets of their past.
A Dark History of Kidnapping and Illegal Adoptions
It soon became apparent that both girls were victims of a comprehensive kidnapping scheme that took place in Georgian hospitals between 1950 and 2006. This organized crime involved hospital staff and government officials, who systematically stole newborns from their biological parents and sold them to adoptive families. Investigative journalist Tamuna Museridze uncovered the extent of this fraud, revealing that more than 100,000 children were stolen from Georgian hospitals during this period.
The Impact on Families and Ongoing Investigations
The revelation has left deep scars on both Elene and Anna, despite the love and care they received from their adoptive families. Their adoptive parents were unaware of the corrupt system and are equally shocked by the revelations. Elene and Anna now hope to one day find their biological parents and be reunited with them. Investigative efforts, spearheaded by journalist Tamuna Museridze, have already reunited around 700 families and continue to expose the extent of this dark chapter in Georgian history.
A Global Issue: Child Trafficking Beyond Georgia
Unfortunately, Georgia is not the only country affected by such a kidnapping scandal. Similar cases have been reported in Chile during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and more recently in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These cases highlight that child trafficking and forced adoptions are global phenomena that have destroyed countless families.
- Elaine Disadze and Anna Panchulidze, both 19 years old, began uncovering their hidden past two years ago. They initially became friends without suspecting they might be sisters, but felt a special bond between them.
- Elaine, a psychology student, struggled to process the truth and accept the new reality. Anna expressed gratitude towards her adoptive parents and joy in finding her own flesh and blood.
- The illegal adoptions in Georgia were coordinated by a network of maternity hospitals, nurseries, and adoption agencies, which colluded to take children from their parents, falsify birth records, and place them with new families in exchange for money.
- Tamuna Musiridze, who runs a Facebook group dedicated to reuniting stolen children with their families, has evidence that at least 120,000 children were stolen and sold between 1950 and 2006. The group has more than 200,000 members and has reunited over 800 families so far.
- Elaine's adoptive mother, Leah Korkutadze, and her husband adopted after learning they could not have children. The long waiting lists for legal adoptions pushed many to circumvent the law and buy babies.
