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Tkviavi Residents Protested Cutting Down of Hundreds-years-old Trees

January 11, 2017
 
Lado Bitchashvili, Shida Kartli

Majoritarian deputy from the Gori municipal board from Tkviavi community Temur Giguashvili requests the law enforcement bodies to study the cutting down of hundred-years-old trees in Tkviavi village on January 4, 2017. The board member found out that the territory, where the trees were cut down, was sold in 2011. The private owner started to cut the trees for his commercial interests.

“This territory was sold during the previous government. We wish to know how legally it was sold and request the law enforcement bodies to study the case,” Temur Giguashvili said.

As a result of the protest of the village deputy and local residents, the cutting process of the trees was suspended. As Tkviavi residents say the territory was recreation zone and it was illegal to sell it out.

“Cutting down hundreds-years old trees is crime of the 21st century. This fact shall be investigated and everybody shall be punished, who sold the territory and who started cutting of these trees,” said Neli Tabatadze from Tkviavi. 
Representatives of the Gori municipal administration said the private owner had applied to them for the permission to cut the trees down but the administration did not issue permission.

Chairman of the Gori municipal board Konstantine Tavzarashvili visited Tkviavi village on January 10. 
“Respective bodies shall estimate how legally the territory was sold and how legally the trees were cut down. Indeed, unique species of Cedar were cut down,” Konstantine Tavzarashvili said.

According to the board chairman’s statement, after the 2014 local self-governmental elections, before the list of the entities-on-sale is elaborated, the representatives of the local government meet the village populations, where the local officials inform people about the draft list of the entities-on-sale. As the chairman said the final list is elaborated as a result of consultation with the village population and considering the needs of the respective villages.

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