“If You Do Not Leave the Area We Will Drag You Out With the Support of Special Unit”

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

IDPs from Abkhazia are being evicted from the building where they have lived for 16 years. Despite their protest, Koba Subeliani, Minister of Refugees and Accommodation, stated that resettlement of the IDPs aims to create better living conditions for them; 138 million GEL is envisaged for the purpose in the budget of 2009. The Minister claims the decision will not be changed and resettlement of IDPs will finish in 2009-2010.

According to the legislation, Chamber of Control should not have any connection with internally displaced people but IDPs from Abkhazia claim that Levan Bezhashvili, chairperson of the Chamber of Control and Giorgi Botkoveli, head of administration at the Chamber of Control, are organizing the eviction process in Kakheti.

IDPs from Abkhazia, living in Telavi, Lagodekhi and Gurjaani district, were warned to leave their accommodations in a week.

Eliso Chedia, an IDP from Abkhazia: “We were brought to Gurjaani in 1992 and give shelters in the building of former sanatorium in resort-house “Akhtala”. We have been living in terrible conditions for 16 years and nobody ever paid attention to us. We get only an IDP allowance that is 22 GEL a month. This sum is so little that we cannot afford anything with it. Some of us are trading in Gurjaani open market; others are doing physical job to earn living. Despite poor living conditions we have got used to living here. However, short time ago we were told to move to the building of former Vocational College in the village of Bakurtsikhe which is being reconstructed for our removal. We declined the offer. Levan Bezhashvili, chairman of the Chamber of Control and Giorgi Botkoveli, head of the administration of the chamber of control, are monitoring our resettlement. We explained to them several times that we could not move to Bakurtsikhe because there we would lose the minimal source of our income from trading or other physical work we do in Gurjaani. We will not have enough money to travel to Gurjaani from Bakurtsikhe to continue our occupations here.”

Amiran Japaridze, an IDP from Abkhazia: Levan Bezhashvili visited us two months ago for the first time. He suggested us to move without any resistance. We refused to move to Bakurtsikhe before the authority started reconstruction of the building but nobody listened to us. We asked Bezhashvili to give alternative accommodation in Gurjaani if it was so necessary us to leave current accommodation. We suggested them concrete building that is completely abandoned. Then we offered them to give the money they had to spend on the reconstruction of the building in Bakurtsikhe to us and we would buy flats in Gurjaani. However, they did not agree. I am a teacher and my monthly salary is 100 GEL. How could I travel from Bakurtsikhe to Gurjaani everyday with that salary? Several days ago we met Kakheti regional governor, but in vain. He said we should leave the territory of the resort house. We do not know whom to apply to for help.

-Mr. Amiran, we were informed that most IDPs from Abkhazia residing in the territory of the resort house have their own flats in Gurjaani.

-Not most of us but only two or three families have flats in the town. But what should those do who do not have flats? The resort-house is a state property and they said we cannot stay here. They claim part of buildings are already sold to private persons but they lie. They sold these buildings while we were living in it; though nobody told us about it.”

Tina Gasviani, an IDP from Abkhazia: “How many times should they evict us? Are not we humans? We did not demand much compensations; just enough money to buy one-room flats in Gurjaani. Don’t they spend on the reconstruction in Bakurtsikhe more than we requested for the purchase? They are reconstructing the building so rapidly that quality of the work is not considered at all. Everything will destroy in two months.

We will not move there. We are going to organize protest demonstrations to attract attention to us. We will walk to Tbilisi and start hunger strike in front of the president’s administration.”

Tamar Nergadze, an IDP from Abkhazia: “Giorgi Botkoveli, head of administration of the Chamber of Control, threatened with forceful eviction unless we leave the place. He said special unit will drag us out of the building like it happened with IDPs from the hotel in Telavi.”

What Is the Connection Between Chamber of Control and IDPs?

Giorgi Botkoveli categorically denies the accusations of the IDPs. He claims that he has no connection with the eviction process.
“IDPs called me and I explained them as a public official what the offers from state were to them; and I suggested these people to accept the offer. I have no more connection with then and I did not threaten anybody,” claimed Botkoveli.

However, not only IDPs residing in Gurjaani blame the head of administration at the Chamber of Control for threatening.

“Government offered alternative accommodation in the country in exchange of the accommodations in the former building of Tourist Center in Telavi. We refused, so they attacked and kicked us out. They are doing the same now. The government started the reconstruction without asking the opinion of IDPs. Chamber of Control is organizing our eviction too. Giorgi Botkoveli threatened we would remain in the street if we do not accept their offer. We will die but not leave this building,” said IDPs from Abkhazia who reside in Telavi. 

Minister Subeliani: Decision was made and no amendments are planned!

According to official data, there are 220 000 IDP families from Abkhazia residing in Georgia who are divided in three categories: IDPs residing in collective centers, IDPs who are renting flats and those who shelter at their relatives.

47 families live in the territory of resort-house “Akhtala” in Gurjaani. 37 families were settled in the former building of Telavi Tourist Center and 4 families live in the former building of vocational college in Lagodekhi.

Despite the protests of the internally displaced people Koba Subeliani, Minister of Refugees and Accommodation, states that resettlement of IDPs from Abkhazia will finish in 2009-2010. “In order to improve the living conditions of the IDPs from Abkhazia 138 GEL is envisaged in the budget for 2009. Reconstruction activities in the buildings are funded from this budget where IDPs will receive accommodations and then will have them registered as private property. IDPs who rent flats or shelter at relatives will have cottages built; the cottages will be repaired. The decision was made and no amendments will be made in it,” said Subeliani.

According to the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation, in 2009 400 collective centers will be assigned to IDPs as private property and it will satisfy over 50 000 IDPs. 23 tender is already announced for the rehabilitation of 41 collective centers.

In December of 2008 Government of Georgia worked out the strategy to resolve the accommodation problems of IDPs and their integration in social programs. IDPs claim that this strategy works against them.