Eco-Migrants from Adjara VS Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation

Manon Bokuchava, Samtskhe-Javakheti

Humanrights.ge visited the Gorelovka village in Ninotsminda district, Samtskhe-Javakheti region. About 300 families live in the village; among them are about 100 families of eco-migrants resettled from Khuli district, Adjara.

The eco-migrants from Adjara have complaints about previous government. They request the new government fire people working on eco-migrants’ issue at the Ministry of IDPs from Occupied Territories, Refugees and Accommodation. 

The eco-migrants said dozens of families returned back to Adjara and continue life in the risk-zone. The reason is that the Ministry could not give them shelter and plots. Gorelovka residents also speak about corrupt deals from the ministry representatives.

“Because of the strict climate, we cannot cultivate anything except potatoes. The main income of the local population is cattle-breeding. We look after cows and collect hay for them all winter long which lasts 6-8 months here. Meanwhile we do not take cows outside. One hay bail costs 8 lari. We do not have hay-fields. Initially, before they resettled us here, the ministry promised us to give about 2 hectares of hay field to each family. At some point they started the distribution of hay-fields but then the process stopped. I was told they had assigned 2 hectares of hay-fields to me but when I arrived at the field to mow hay, another person was there and said the land legally belonged to him; nothing was assigned to me at all. So, the big part of eco-migrants remained without plots. City residents cannot realize how it is difficult it is for villagers to be without plots but here we will die of starvation without land. Without hay we cannot feed cows in winter and we will not have dairy products as a result. So, we will not be able to exchange dairy products into other food and will not sell it either. The lack of hay-fields is serious problem and the ministry should pay attention to us,” said eco-migrant Nugzar Artmeladze, living in Gorelovka village.

Eco-migrant Eter Gorgadze from Khulo, Adjara also complains about the ministry:

“My husband had to leave house only for several days – his mother was dying in Adjara. Meanwhile I was staying at my son’s house so as to not stay home alone. Apparently, an employee at the Ministry of Accommodations, Nazi Devadze, took advantage of the time when there was nobody at home and sheltered another family there; she terrorizes the entire village here. I petitioned to all institutions and argued with the person who was sheltered into our house. He said he had paid money for the house and would not leave it,” said Eter Giorgadze.

Locals took us to Nazi Devadze’s house and explained us that a family who migrated from Khulo was sheltered in a demolished house as a result of Devadze’s efforts.

Eco-migrants accuse the head of the Accommodation Department of the Refugee Ministry, Giorgi Mazmishvili, to support Devadze. They said Devadze purchases abandoned houses with state funds and then extorts additional funds from eco-migrants to shelter them into those houses. Locals also said that Devadze purchased one house for her own family members twice with ministry’s funds.

“I was resettled here from Khulo district in 2010. I was promised to be given a house. Nazi Devadze said she had to hold some ballot to give me a house. I have been living at my brother’s house since then. Meanwhile, Devadze sheltered several families into houses because they paid some money to Devadze. Many families live without houses here. As for plots, documents show that plots were assigned to people but only 4-5 farmers own hay-fields in the village. We urge the new government to assist us and clarify our situation. The least they can do is find out how many eco-migrants returned to Adjara and now live in risk-zone,” eco-migrant Temur Beridze said, adding that the houses and plots are unfairly distributed and sometimes people, who are not eco-migrants at all, get hold of the property.

Humanrights.ge got in touch with the Ministry of IDPs from Occupied Territories, Refugees and Accommodation regarding the issue. They replied to us in written form. The Ministry does not confirm the problems which eco-migrants raised with us; the only thing they confirmed is that Nazi Devadze is their employee. Giorgi Mazmishvili also continues his position at the Ministry.

“The Ministry carries out the resettlement process of eco-migrants from Adjara to Ninotsminda together with the local government of Adjara, autonomous republic. They study cases of each family as well as the quality of their damage. Houses are distributed via open ballot in the presence of all interested people; relevant documents are preserved in the Ministry. Families, who shall be granted with houses based on the petition of Adjara local government and joint decision, participate in the ballot. As for the issue of plots, two years ago families received 2 hectares of lands each but several families refused to accept them and they requested more land though the law necessitates only 1.75 hectares of land for each family. According to the Ministry’s information, several families selfishly settled in Gorelovka who claim that they were victims of natural disaster. Those families try to occupy the houses which were unfortunately abandoned by previously migrated families. So, Ministry representatives, such as Giorgi Mazmishvili and his colleagues, will arrive at the place and study situation there,” the Ministry’s letter reads.

Human Rights Center hopes the Ministry will study the cases exposed in the article published on humanrights.ge in detail, as well as the problems of other eco-migrants. For a more detailed clarification, the Ministry can provide the Center with relevant information after they survey the situation.