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Situation on Georgian-Azerbaijani Border Deteriorates

December 26, 2005

Situation on Georgian-Azerbaijani Border Deteriorates

The situation on the Georgian-Azerbaijani border is deteriorating almost daily. Inhabitants of Georgian villages protest against land seizing by Azeri people, but with no results. According to the information provided by boarder guards, the situation is getting so uncontrolled that Georgian and Azeri shepherds are even committing murders.

The Georgian population is actively leaving boarder villages of the Dedoplistskaro region for the last several years. Azeris, who start their own economy, occupy their living places. In addition, Azeri banks offer credits for 0% rent for Azeris who buy land on the territory of Georgia.

Almost everyone in the Dedoplistskaro region knows that the intention of non-Georgian peoples to seize Georgian land has increased. The problem is exacerbated, as no demarcation zone between Georgia and Azerbaijan exists. The rivers Alazani, Iori and several channels play the role of fictional boarder. 

Two years earlier, Azeri shepherds cultivated land on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border without permission, enclosed the land and said that the territory is the property of Azerbaijan. Part of the land was given back to Georgians, while another part still is in possession of non-Georgians. “The riverbed is often dug out so that the river changes its flow, which causes serious frictions between populations. Tushetian shepherds had a conflict with Azeri people, because they did not allow Georgians to take their cows into the river Iori, as they said it was Azerbaijan territory,” – said a Georgian shepherded and added that these frictions quite often are transformed into massacre.

“The government does not pay any attention to us. We will not make concessions and give our land to them, we do not have another choice but to defend ourselves”, - says shepherd Eldar Borchiashvili.

The Border Guard Department of Georgia confirms the facts provided by the Tushetian shepherd.  Representatives of the department, who chose not to give away their names, say that such facts took place quite often, which may cause the beginning of ethnical conflict.

“Frictions between Georgians and Azeri people occur often. We do our best to resolve the conflicts, but the problem is that we are not informed all the time.” The existence of ethnic conflicts is confirmed by the Georgian population living in the villages close to the border as well. “We often hear sounds of fights and even shooting. Who said, that it is calm here? Maybe tensions do not occur on the border itself, but they should know what is happening a bit away from it,”- say inhabitants and ask help from the government.

Gela Mtivlishvili from Kakheti

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