The child was born in 2005 in Germany. Her mother is a citizen of Georgia and her father is a citizen of Germany. The couple married in 2003. According to Section 1626 of the German Civil Code, both parents had joint custody. The family lived together in their flat in Berlin and both parents exercised joint parental custody.
The parents agreed that in August 2009, the mother would travel with the child to Georgia for two months. They agreed that both should return to Germany in October 2009, however, the child was not returned. The father submitted an application to the Central Authority of Georgia.