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“If we dare to die, the Russian visa will be required for accessing the graveyard.”

September 7, 2010
Iza Rikadze, Kviris Palitra

The area of the occupied territories of Georgia has increased by two more kilometers. Though our government doesn’t divulge this information, it’s been about two months now the Russian army units occupied the big part of Tvauri settlement in the village Lamisyana, Kaspi region and divided it by bank that hinders the residents to have an access to their homes. The big part of the rural land of Lamisyana happened to fall inside the occupied territory. So, it turns out that the Russian occupants are nearer to Tbilisi, precisely 24 kilometers afar.

Village Lamisyana and the settlement of Tvaurebi are the last settlements in the South, surrounded by the village Akhmaji of Akhalgori region, that’s been occupied by Russians for two years now.

Lamisyana is a strategic territory for Russians, it links Akhalgori region to the central highway.

There are about 500 families in the village. Tvauri settlement is one of the districts of the village, where there are about 50 families of the same name. Not too long ago, Russian occupants took over this part of the settlement.
The fact that Lamisyana is the conflict zone is confirmed by the cortege of EU observers, that meets us on the path to the village. “They are just observing the transportation of the Russian army with their binoculars from afar. What hope can we have in them?!” – states the village resident, who didn’t wish to reveal his name for the safety reasons, but took the obligation of the guide.

While entering the village, the first thing that stuck out was the fields and the orchards burned down by the sun and drought. The central irrigation canal of the village has dried so much, that the water leaves no track for a long time now. “This irrigation canal starts in Akhalgori. Russians closed down the canal after our government stopped providing electricity for Akhalgori. The sacks filled with the sand have been thrown into the canal. The water coming down from the mountain flows into the river Ksani.

Lamisyana was famous for orchards. Now, everything has become stale. Practically, we are left with no harvest.

“To get the attention of the government, we decided to block the central highway, but the legal officers started beating us, the protest rally participant teachers were dismissed from their jobs,” – tells us the guide.

In the middle of the village, on the electricity pillar, there’s a Georgian flag flapping, that’s the sign that though Russians are two steps afar, the Georgian jurisdiction is still covering the area.

“Russians often violate the air space. The appearance of occupants’ helicopters above the village is usual thing. More, sometimes they come really near the post and the village wandering around the village. Once, coming from the orchards, I see four Russian soldiers approaching me with their bag packs. I could not run anywhere, besides I was scared they would shoot me. They come up saying that they are lost and are looking for their block post.

Last spring, six of our villagers gone out for wood, were detained and for eight months they’ve been locked up in the Tskhinvali prison. If I’m not able to go out in the orchard, take harvest or cut the wood, what else can a peasant do?  So, as it turns out, we have to pack our staff and leave this place. After the Russians moved the border two kilometers nearer, the Tvauri settlement happened to fall into their controlled territory. The elders joke that if they dare to die, the Russian visa will be required for accessing the graveyards,” – sadly tells us the guide.

Meanwhile, we are approaching the Georgian block post. The thoroughly prepared cellars look quite unprotected for the military purposes.”These poor people are under the snow in winter and the rain in summer. You should see what kind of a block post the Russians have. This is a hen-house compared to theirs,” – explains the guide. Only one legal officer comes from here, the rest are the soldiers sent from Adjara as for the mission.

As it turns out, even in case of provocation from Russian side, Georgians don’t have a right to answer with shooting. We are asking the militaries, if possible, to let us pass on the territory controlled by Russia as if we want to see the abandoned house.

After making couple of phone calls Georgian legal officers let us know that we can pass on the occupied territory and request our ID cards.
On September 2, exactly at 13:15 we passed the conditional border and entered the occupied territory.

“All these hillsides are occupied by Russians. You can clearly see Tbilisi and Mtskheta from there. All day long, they are observing the environment taking photos. New military bases are being built in Akhalgori and Akhmaji. A lot of them are based in the woods. When the winter time comes, going up to the forest proves hard, that’s why they are occupying the villages and territories where the highway passes into the forest so they can provide the food and armament for the soldiers. In the mornings, they don’t show up much in the newly occupied village, they’d rather come down at night to comfortably dine and rest in someone’s yard. If you are arrested, beware, that our legal officers are declining their responsibility and won’t help you at all. The locals could relate to occupants easier. What can we do, shall we not gather the harvest we hardly received?!” – almost whispers the guide not to catch the attention of Russian soldiers.

The abandoned houses and yards are reflecting the neglect. There’s no sign of life in places where two months ago there was a settlement. We have to cross almost wild road full of weeds where the reptiles have found the shelter.

“To say it honestly, nothing has been lost here yet. They say that Russians are entering Georgians’ homes in Akhmaji, taking their wine vessels and exchanging it for vodka to locals… I’m bothered by something else. If Russians move border by two kilometers every month soon our home will fall into the occupied territory. And, probably the rumor that Russians will soon enter Igoeti will come true.

At first, our side retreated and moved its block post to Lamisyana. Then the Russians took over the Tvauri settlement. When the bank was put up, I even argued with one of the Russian soldiers. He prepared his gun and warned me not to cross the border again flapping his map in front of me where the border was marked exactly on the Tvauri settlement.

We don’t hope for anybody’s help. Every day we are living with fear. Nobody knows when we have to leave and flee from here.

Not too long ago I noticed the Russian soldiers in the garbage dumping areas in the suburbs of the village. I instantly reported it to the police. When they came, Russians were no longer there, but you know what surprised me, one policeman was telling another, - move back, body, they can shoot you. A while ago, I go out and see that Russian flag is flapping in front of my house and a lot of militaries moving around. I almost lost control thinking about my family. Scared people were finding shelter in the woods.

As it turned out they were making movie about Russia-Georgia war. Come on, when you know that we are living in the conflict zone where every excessive movement can panic us, at least warn us. Like that modeled Qronika when they happily informed us about the start of the war.

You should have seen how our soldiers were running away from the Georgian block posts. They could not crank their cars and were rolling them with their hands. The residents tried to calm them down: if Russians come in, we’ll give you our clothes and they won’t be able to discern you from the locals…”

On the way back we enter the Jambakur-Orbeliani museum. The museum has been pillaged several times (by the domestic enemy) and only few exhibits are preserved. Here you can find the private item of David Guramishvili – 26 liter jug. They say that the guests were served exactly with this gigantic jug and 26 liter wine would get emptied in one table serve. We are leaving Lamisyana with the hope that with the wine teemed from Guramishvili’s jug we’ll say a toast for the unification of Georgia some day. At least we’ll say so.

Source: www.kvirispalitra.ge/politic/4832-qsikvdili-rom-davapiroth-sasaflaoze-misasvlelad-rusethis-viza-gvtcirdebaq.html

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