Problems of Eco-Migrants Returned from Tsalka Are Still Unresolved

Maka Malakmadze

Eco-migrants returned from Tsalka have been protesting in front of the Adjara government for 36 days already. Several days ago, prime-minister also met them and promised to resolve their problems.

Eco-migrant returned to Adjara from Tsalka last month and since then they have been living in the street. Years ago, as a result of natural disaster the families were resettled from Khulo and Shuakhevi districts to Tsalka. The government did not register houses on eco-migrants which they sheltered in Tsalka. Owners of big part of those houses had migrated to Greece years ago. However, now they returned home and got their houses back. Homeless eco-migrants from Adjara applied to Adjara government for help; representatives of the local government state they cannot give accommodations to these people now.

“We are homeless, victims of criminal Saakashvili; we urge you for help,” “we appeal to the government to pay attention to us,” “Mr. Bidzina, please help us to relieve from our 15-year imprisonment,” – these slogans are hanging on the mini-buses of the eco-migrants. They are still waiting for the response. 

Eco-migrants settled in the square in front of the Adjara Government House since they returned to Adjara. One part of them sleep in the tents, another part sleeps in mini-buses.

On June 14, during his visit in Adjara, Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili met eco-migrants. He noted during his interview with journalists that special commission will resolve this issue in a week. “Adjara residents returned from Tsalka have problems. Greek people started to return to Tsalka and they evicted eco-migrants from their homes. We are creating a commission and will regulate the issue in a week,” Ivanishvili said. 

Eco-migrants are looking forward to the resolution of their problem. 

Mevlud Vashakmadze, eco-migrant: “We are waiting for the resolution of this problem. Adjara government says we are not within their jurisdiction. Prime-Minister promised us to tackle our problem; let us see what will happen.”

Temur Geladze, eco-migrant: “none of us, who lives here, has money to purchase house. Consequently, one part of our people already lives in the street; second part sheltered their relatives. I am an eco-migrant; I fled from Agara village 15 years ago because of landslide. I no longer have a house in Adjara. If I return here, I will stay in the street. If I go back to Tsalka, I will live in the street there too. I do not know what to do, if the government does not help us.”

According to the PM’s statement, the issue of eco-migrants shall be resolved in a week.