Human Rights Defender Says Ossetians Feel Unprotected in Georgia

Ucha Nanuashvili, executive director of the NGO Human Rights Center, considers that Ossetians flee from Kakheti because of both social and political problems.

“Social problems in villages really create unbearable situation for people; but I think the main reason for the migration of Ossetian people from Georgia is political situation. Ethnic minority of Ossetians have sense of instability particularly after the war in August. They think if the conflict is renewed, they might become victims of the revenge. They are afraid of being in Georgia because they feel themselves unprotected, so they prefer to live in safer places,” said Ucha Nanuashvili.

Based on the information of the representatives of territorial entities within the district administrations of Kakheti region, the number of Ossetian residents has sharply reduced in the villages of Pichkhovani and Argokhi in Akhmeta district, in the village of Tsitskanantseri in Kvareli district, in the village of Kitaani in Gurjaani district and in the village of Pona in Lagodekhi district. For example, for 2003, 2 239 Ossetian people lived in Lagodekhi district. Currently, their number does not exceed 500. Villages of Bughaani, Vedzebi, Jaburebi and Naduknari also were inhabited by Ossetian people. By 2003 more than 400 people lived in these villages; at the moment only 53 Ossetian families live in all four villages.

Source: Kakheti News Center