Name: Documentary explores fate of infants classed as dead but sold
Uploaded: 2025-12-11T20:34:59.032Z
Duration: 1 min 56 s
Description: From the 1970s until at least 2005, nurses, doctors or taxi drivers were involved in child theft in Georgia. The mothers were told their babies had died and the bodies were not released. Now, a new documentary has given the children a chance to find their biological family.

From the 1970s until at least 2005, nurses, doctors or taxi drivers were involved in child theft in Georgia. The mothers were told their babies had died and the bodies were not released. Now, a new documentary has given the children a chance to find their biological family.

Tbilisi

The documentary 'Stolen Children,' directed by Martyna Wojciechowska and Jowita Baraniecka, examines the illegal trafficking of infants who were falsely declared dead and sold for adoption. The film highlights the situation in Georgia, where 100,000 mothers are reportedly searching for children they were told had died, in a country of just 3.5 million people.

The documentary presents two main stories: an investigative journalist who uncovers her own adoption and a criminal network dating back to the 1970s, and twin sisters who found each other through social media. 'Stolen Children' premiered at the Watch Docs Festival in Warsaw and will be available on HBO Max, aiming to inspire affected individuals to reconnect and uncover the truth about their families.

Documentary explores fate of infants classed as dead but sold

Stories of stolen children illegally sold for adoption, 100,000 mothers who were made to believe their sons and daughters had died and their bodies were never returned to them. The documentary Stolen Children by Martyna Wojciechowska and Jowita Baraniecka tells the story of this inhumane practice. There are numerous cases in Spain. There are many such places in the world. Certainly, the entire Eastern Bloc and all post-Soviet countries have experienced such situations, the inhabitants of these countries. However, in Georgia, the scale is amazing and shocking, because we are talking about a country that has 3.5 million inhabitants, and at the moment there are 100,000 mothers who are looking for their children. In such a small country, such a number is shocking, and we really still do not know how many these people could be. The directors tell two interconnected stories. The first is that one of the investigative journalists, who after her mother's death, learns she was adopted. She decides to search for her biological mother, uncovering a criminal operation that has been ongoing since the 1970s. She reveals that everyone was involved. Nurses, doctors, taxi drivers. I'm happy because of the premiere, and I'm sure that those mothers, those children who are all over the world, will find a way to contact us, help with this documentary. But also, I, of course, feel ashamed that those things are happening in Georgia. The second story is about the twin sisters, who found each other on social media, even though they previously had no idea they were adopted. Now, like Tamuna, they want to help people find their biological family. I have no doubt that this film will stir up an avalanche. A lot of people will find out that this procedure took place. A lot of people will start to look for the truth about themselves, about their families, about their roots. The film premiered at the Watch Dogs Festival in Warsaw and will be available on HBO Max on the 12th of December.

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