Oak-trees have been massively cut down in 26 Maisi village in Terjola district for the last two weeks. Those trees were several dozen years old and were naturally grown up in the space of about 120 hectares. Georgian oak-tree is among endangered species and its cutting down is punished by the law.
Local population blames former MP Zurab Butskhrikidze from Terjola district in deforesting of oak-trees. He was majoritarian candidate of the National Movement in Zestaponi during parliamentary elections. Population said Zurab Butskhrikidze had allowed local people to cut oak-trees in the forest in exchange of votes.
It is noteworthy that Forest Service did not issue any permits on deforesting of oak-trees. Chief Forester of Imereti region Vakhtang Darakhvelidze said he had not received any notification about the issue. However, cutting trees down without permission is punished by the law.
Mari Tabidze, Terjola