Public Defender Requests the Proper Residence Places for Eco Migrants

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

Giorgi Tughushi, the public defender of Georgia requests that the family of  Mukhamed Gogitidze from the village Koreti, Akhmeta region is provided with the proper residence place. The public defender addressed the Minister of Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia, Koba Subeliani.

Three-member family of Gogitidzes lives in severe conditions. Gogitidzes were displaced from Adjara 5 years ago. The water leaks in the house while raining, the walls are breaking down, the floor is so damaged that the family members fall in the basement.

“At night the floor broke down and I fell in the basement. I scarecely was taken out of there. I hit something with my head and it has been hurting since then. This was not the first incident. Our floor has broken down several times before. The boards are all rotten. We are scared it might break down again. Can we live in such a house? There are so many abandoned apartments. Is it not possible to accommodate us somehere where we can be secure? – states Zhuzhuna Gogitidze.

The head of the family Mukhamed Gogitidze notes that this house was rather damaged before they moved in. Mukhamed Gogitidze numerous times addressed the Akhmeta Municipality Government, the Administration of Kakheti Governor and the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation with the request of accommodation in another place or provision of transportation for going back to Adjara, but with no results.

On November 17th, the representative of public defender visited the family of Mukhamed Gogitidze to check the living conditions of Mukhamed Gogitidze. The visit determined that the family of Mukhamed Gogitidze was displaced from the village Kizinadze of Shuakhevi region of Adjara Autonomous Republic as an eco-migrant left homeless as a result of natural disaster. In 2005, the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia accommodated him in the village Koreti of Akhmeta region.

“Three-member family of Mukhamed Gogitidze lives in the private one-storeyed house comprised of three rooms. The living conditions are severe: the walls are broken down, the floor is damaged and partly broken, the ceiling and the windows are damaged as well. The primary source of income is the age pension of Mukhamed Gogitidze. The family is registered in the United Data Base for Socially Vulnerable Families. They are provided with the package of social assistance according to their rating points. It should be noted that this house was already in a severe state when given to Mukhamed Gogitidze’s family,” – states the office of public defender.

“According to the article 7 and paragraph 6 of article 6 of 34th resolution of Georgian government issued on February 22, 2008, the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia shall ensure the “organization of eco-migrant’s accommodation; development of programs for their adaptation-reintegration in the new residence places.”  Thus, the accommodation and provision of eco-migrants with the adequate living conditions is the obligation of the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation,” – states the office of public defender.

The Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation is not going to fulfil the request of the public defender. According to their statement, Mukhamed Gogitidze was provided with the proper living conditions in the beginning.

“Gogitidze deliberately destroyed that house so we could transfer him somewhere else. There is no severe condition there. He broke down the floor and damaged the things. We principally will not grant another house, no way. This is the state property and Gogitidze should thank us that we are not imposing responsibility on him for the damages,” – states the head of the Accommodation Department, Giorgi Mazmishvili.

- Mr. George, how can you prove that Gogitidzes deliberately damaged the house?

- I do not have any documents, but the neighbors can confirm this. Everybody knows this in the village.”

We spoke with other eco-migrants in the village Koreti. According to them, the house where Gogitidzes lived was already damaged when they were placed in there. Ecomigrants blame the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation in the indifference. According to the locals, out of families of 30 eco-migrants, 15 went back to Adjara. Ecomigrants state that the reason for going back to Adjara is that there is no school in Koreti and they do not have enough land for harvesting.