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Ingiloys Urge to Open Bridge

December 8, 2011

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

Ingiloys residing in Samtatskaro village in Dedoplistskaro district request to open a bridge linking Georgia and Azerbaijan. The Georgian Custom Police prohibited transport movement along Samtatskaro-Muganlo Bridge a year ago because it was amortized. However, there is no document to prove it.

Ingiloys residing in Samtatskaro village can travel to Saingilo only if they cross the bridge on foot that is very inconvenient and costs expensive.

“I last travelled to Saingilo a year ago. I used to travel there five times per week. Now, I have to arrive at the bridge by car, then I have to cross the bridge on foot and from there I have to take a taxi – it is so difficult for us to travel to Saingilo and it costs about 50 GEL each time. Initially, the bridge was locked when Petre Tsiskarishvili was Kakheti regional governor. Before that, we had no problems and travelling was not restricted. We even went on strike, held demonstrations and protested much. They even dispersed us. All our relatives live there; part of them died. We want to go cemeteries but cannot go. There is a road to Saingilo from Lagodekhi district too but it is more expensive. We have to travel 150 more kilometers. Initially, they said the bridge was locked because of smuggling. Why are they (custom police officers) standing there then? Later they said the bridge was damaged but it is not true either. About four years ago, when Badri Bitsadze was head of the Custom Police, he said it was the most solid bridge in Georgia,” said Ingilo Dina Gamkharashvili from Samtatskaro.

“I have not travelled to Saingilo for more than 6 months. Parents, brothers and relatives live there. Our MP raised the question at the Parliament but there was no result. In order to take roundabout to get to Saingilo, we have to travel to Tsnori then to Lagodekhi and from there to Belkan, Zakatala and finally to Kakhi. And it is too expensive trip. Why should we waste so much time and finances when we can get to Saingilo only in 25 minutes?” asked Makvala Tartarashvili from Samtatskaro.

Ingiloys said amortization of the bridge is not real reason for closing the Georgia-Azerbaijan’s linking bridge. They said the bridge was built for military purposes and it did not face any danger of collapsing. Ordinary cars cannot damage it.

“Allegedly they closed the bridge because it was damaged but as soon as it was closed, they started rehabilitation works; they even paved asphalt on it. It is not true reason. Who will tell us that it is government’s decision not to allow us to travel there? Flooded river took new bridges away but could not move the old one at all. It was a military bridge constructed for trucks and tanks and how could a car damage it?!” asked Vazha Emrashvili from Samtatskaro.

Georgian custom officers also create problems for Samatatskaro resident Ingiloys. “We have other problem too; we cannot bring anything from Saingilo. Azerbaijan side does not have any problem; they allow us to leave part of luggage there and bring them in several parts; but Georgian custom officers do not allow us to bring luggage. They allow us to take only a small bag and if we have anything more, we have to leave it at the Custom Office. Similar restrictions did not work in the past. Once I was bringing a boiled chicken and they said luckily it was boiled, otherwise they would have thrown it away. A woman was bringing 4 kilos of nut and custom officers demanded her to leave it there; the astonished woman threw the nuts into the river and did not leave it with them either,” said Inga Sakanelashvili.

We requested a document to prove amortization of the bridge from the Custom Police Department but we could not get any. There is no similar document at all. The custom officers did not allow us to check the bridge.

“You should take a permit from the patrol police to allow us to the bridge. Without that permit residents of other districts cannot reach the bridge,” custom officer Zakaria Skhirtladze said.

He added the bridge needs rehabilitation and traffic movement can place passengers into danger. So, the transport movement was prohibited there.

“Transport movement towards Azerbaijan is allowed from Lagodekhi district after the Samtatskaro Bridge was locked. Consequently, Samtatskaro population has to travel additional 150 kilometers. A year ago, the bridge was blocked to prevent smuggling but now custom police is working there and there is no threat of smuggling there. Consequently, I urge to government to immediately address to this problem,” said MP.

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