Azerbaijan Gets Hold of Georgian Territories

Peasants and farmer from Sighnaghi and Dedoplistskaro district in the Gurjaani district urge for help. According to them in spring, during the flood River Alazani changes its bed and moves to the right; as a result of the natural changes most part of Georgian territory remains on Azerbaijan side.

“We are not just worried about the land owned by peasants and farmers; we are losing our territory. Local population cannot reinforce the river bank. Unfortunately we could not succeed to attract the attention of the local government to our problem though we have applied to the district and regional authorities several times. The Alazani river destroys our plots everyday and is causing us serious damage,” complained several farmers. They added that heavy technique is working all day and night on the Azerbaijan side of the village of Erisimedi to the village of Samtatskaro in Dedoplistskaro district; the Azerbaijan side is working hard on the reinforcement of the river bank.

According to the Kakheti regional administration about 7 million GEL was allocated from the central budget for the reinforcement activities of the river banks. “We plan to work on the embankment of the Alazani river in Sighnaghi and Dedoplistskaro districts. We have already announced the competition for the companies to carry out the activities,” said Giorgi Sibashvili, deputy Kakheti regional governor.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti