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Dual Citizenship in Kvareli

February 22, 2006

Dual Citizenship in Kvareli

The Lezghins living in the Kvareli region have Georgian IDs and birth certificates in addition to Dagestanian documents, aquired with the assistance of a gynecologist. The gynecologist, called Omar Davudov, came to Chantliskure from Dagestan. They cross the Georgia –Dagestan border without any difficulties. According to information put out, Lezghins manage to smuggle narcotics into the country which they then sell cheaply to the Georgian youth.

Gynecologist Omar Davudov provides Dagestanians living in Chantliskure with his services there and charges them less than normal but he gets sufficient payment from Dagestan. The Chikaani community states that Davudov arrived from Makhachkala after being requested to do so by the local inhabitants.” The authorities were informed about Davudov’s arrival.  The Makhachkala authorities sent him here and he is also financed by them.  Maybe Davudov does not have official permission to provide medical service here, but he charges much less and if he is banned from carrying out his work, the Lezghins will create a lot of problems”, says the Chantliskure Administration Deputy-Head, Aleksandre Chachanidze.

The principle of Chantliskure’s school Magamed Aliev does not deny the fact that children are enrolled through the Dagestanian documentation and approves giving newborn children Dagestanian citizenship. “There are many families who cannot afford the expenses at the hospital that is why they have to use Davudov’s service, thus, they address him for the birth certificate. There is nothing bad in this. About 30 -40 school children are enrolled through Dagestanian birth certificates and they plan to continue their studies in Dagestan”, said Magamed Aliev and showed us one of the child’s birth certificate, which stated that the place of  Aslan Akhitaev’s birth and registration was the Beshtan region of the Republic of Dagestan.

According to unofficial information, despite legislative barriers existing in Georgia (Georgian legislation says that a child’s place of birth is recognized to be the administrative place where a child is given a certificate) Omar Davudov is able to distribute Dagestanian birth certificates to children born in Chantliskure for a considerable sum of money. Additionally, these children are given Georgian birth certificates, thus, they gain double citizenship.  “The children born here are granted with Georgian birth certificates”, states Chantliskure deputy governor Aleksandre Chachanidze.  He also mentions that old people live in the region without any registration. “Three or four persons in a family consisting of five members are registered in Dagestan and get a higher pension there (60 laris). It should be mentioned that there are people who have double registration. The youth prefers to continue their studies in Dagestan. Those who have Dagestanian birth certificates are able do anything they would like”, explains Zurab Bikoshvili, a representative of the local administration.

The Georgian population claims that Lezghins feel free to do anything they want in the region. “They steal cattle and sell it in Dagestan. With the money, they get for the cattle they buy different goods and are engaged in commerce in Georgia. We do not argue, the only thing we want is to stop the import of narcotics in order to avoid a degradation of the youth”, shares her concern fifty-seven year old local inhabitant.

“Both regional administration and Kvareli police possess information about Davudov’s activities. But the question is whether Davudov will take a responsibility if something goes wrong”, asks Tina Phrodiashvili.

Omar Davudov and other Dagestanians avoid a meeting with us and refuse to give any comments.  Neither the regional police nor Kvareli’s administration comment the fact under the pretext that they have no information.

We contacted Gia Kavtaradze, the Minister of Justice, who turned out not to be informed about the fact either. “The ministry does not possess information about the issue you are interested in, I ensure you, I will study the case and immediately react on it”, said Gia Kavtaradze.

Gela Mtivlishvili from Kakheti

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