Nephew of Emzar Kvitsiani Takes Care of Kodori Valley

“The situation got hopeless after Saakashvili launched the war in August of 2008,” regretted the residents of Dali Valley. Before the occupation, the government of Georgia called Upper Abkhazia to this territory. The local people (Svani) think term – Dali Valley – is more proper name for their region. The name of Kodori is associated with the Kodori River which flows in the Dali Valley.

At the moment, military infrastructure is being built in Kodori valley. Russian occupants are building even under-ground constructions. Abkhaz soldiers are not deployed in de-facto borders at all. They appear there only once a week. Every road and pass is controlled by Russian and Kazak soldiers. There are three roads between Kodori Valley and Chuberi and all the three ways are controlled by Russians. The pass from Kodori Valley to Chuberi is 50 kilometers long.

“It is the “silk road” which we used after the August war to flee from Kodori Valley; apparently Saakashvili built the road in advance to take us out from there after the war,” said the Svani people with irony who now live in Chuberi.

“Locals are not oppressed in the Kodori Valley at all; just the opposite, they are supported. An old man told me he did not have fire-wood in winter and when Russians learned about it; they brought the wood to him by lorry. The locals want to return to Kodori valley but those who have children – particularly daughters – cannot run risk to go there. Russians oppress Abkhaz people in Kodori,” said a resident of Chuberi district.

“It is no problem to return to Kodori valley, particularly if you have a “red passport” (soviet passport). Residents of Samegrelo region often go there from Zugdidi. However, in the rest territory of Georgia nobody likes IDPs. We are either left homeless, or sheltered into bee-houses here,” complained IDPs residing in Chuberi.

210 IDP families from Kodori Valley live in Chuberi now. The IDPs said they live in extreme poverty. In addition to that, the allowance of 28 GEL for socially disabled person was also abolished for IDPs.

“Several IDPs from Kodori Valley had been displaced before the August war; others are new IDPs. Today I learned we will not receive the allowance of 28 GEL either. Although the allowance was too little, it somehow assisted us. If they do not want us to be here, we are ready to return to the valley,” said IDP Marina Gerliani.

People can travel to Kodori from Chuberi without any restrictions. Part of Kodori residents returned to their homes and continue living there. They even get some allowances from the de-facto authority.

The IDPs living in Chuberi said Russia appointed Zaza Gurchiani to the position of de-facto regional governor in Kodori. However, he is formal governor because the nephew of Emzar Kvitsiani (former governor of Kodori valley who revolted against the current government of Georgia; now he has left Georgia, his sister Nora Kvitsiani is a political prisoner) – Bachuki Arghvliani governs the valley in fact.

“Bachuki governs the valley. He protects the houses of Svani people from strangers and robbers. He controls the roads too. It is enough to apply to Bachuki for help and then you should not be afraid in Kodori: he will take care of you. Emzar Kvitsiani is in Sokhumi now,” said people from Chuberi.

Everybody remembers Emzar Kvitsiani in Chuberi and particularly in Kodori valley, who was declared to be a traitor by Saakashvili’s government; everybody remembers his deeds there. But when you ask the locals whether he really was a traitor, they prefer to keep silence. Apparently, they can neither agree nor refuse. In general, Chuberi residents rarely speak about their opinions publicly. They are particularly reserved when speaking about Emzar Kvitsiani and his nephew. Their argument is: “You saw what happened with those who had any connection with Emzari or Bachuki?!” But everybody claims one thing: “Emzar Kvitsiani was the person who protected Kodori Valley before 2008. It was his tribute that the valley survived during the civil war in the 1990s. Saakashvili is responsible for what happened here afterwards.”

Svani people speak about Bachuki Arghvliani positively. “Bachuki suggested the Abkhaz side to appoint Zaza Gurchiani to the position of the regional governor. Everybody knows that Bachuki belongs to the criminal world so he could not be the governor himself. So, Gurchiani is a formal governor. Bachuki Arghvliani is a very good person. He assists every resident of Kodori Valley.”

The IDPs from Kodori are very disappointed by the government. “In the past, before the August war, Kodori was the border-line - red line between Abkhazia and Georgia. Now this line moved to Chuberi in Mestia district. Now they are reconstructing Mestia. Apparently they will assign it to Russians too.”