Possible Bloodshed on Georgia–Azerbaijan Border

 Possible Bloodshed on Georgia–Azerbaijan Border

The situation on the Georgia–Azerbaijan border is getting worse. For four months, Georgians have been trying unsuccessfully to cross the Samtatskaro checkpoint bridge, to get to Azerbaijan to see their families and relatives. People were told that the bridge was closed to do necessary repair work. Work on the bridge however has yet to start. The inhabitants have asked the government for help but to no avail. The people of Samtatskaro, known as ‘Ingilos’, claim that the Georgian government’s policies towards them are undemocratic. They say that if the government forces them to become part of Saingilo, they risk having to convert to Islam because of intimidation by the Azeri government.

The village of Samtatskaro, in the Dedoplistskaro region, is located on the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan. There are 2500 inhabitants and among them 600 Ingilos in the village. The Ingilos moved to Samtatskaro when the Christian Georgians living in Saingilo were forced to convert to Islam. “Despite those difficult times, we have managed to keep in contact with our relatives who decided to stay there and be baptized as Muslims. However, since December 31st 2005, due to the closure of the Samtatskaro check-point bridge, we have not had the chance to meet with our family members or relatives”, says Giorgi Sardalashvili.

“Smuggling was given as a reason for closing the bridge. Though, it is clear that the poor people here were not involved in this illegal activity. We asked both the Regional Administration and Regional Governor of the Kakheti region to open the bridge. The Regional Administration said that they could do nothing for us. Petre Tsiskarishvili, the Governor of Kakheti, did not even meet the people who had taken great efforts to get to Telavi to meet with him. We could not do anything else. We left the place in embarrassment”, says Dina Gamkharashvili.

The local government has also dug a huge hole on the road to the checkpoint, which hinders traffic. The inhabitants of Samtatskaro, Kakhi, Belekani and Zakatala demand the bridge be at least reopened for pedestrians.

“We protested against the situation several times but no one paid any attention to us. Last week, the village decided to fill the hole that was deliberately dug in the road to Saingilo. We even attempted to fill it; however, the Kakheti Financial Police contacted a special division who prevented us from doing this by threatening to arrest us. We do not know what to do. I assure you that bloodshed is unavoidable. People will cross the border using force. I know that the frontier guards must obey their orders. In that case, they will have to shoot us”, say the inhabitants of Samtatskaro, who can no longer hide their frustration.

The Ingilos, living in the Kakhi, Belekani and Zakatala regions, also demand the reopening of the bridge. Iakob Beridze, one of the inhabitants of Saingilo, told us in a telephone interview that he had not seen his relatives that live in Samtatskaro for four months.

The frontier guards at the Samtatskaro checkpoint avoid journalists. However, they stated the bad condition of the bridge is the official reason for its closure. “The bridge needs repairing, that is the reason why it is closed. If somebody disobeys our orders and tries to cross it illegally, of course, we would prevent such an attempt”, said one of the guards, who refused to name himself.

Gela Iakobashvili, Head of the Regional Administration, says: ‘There is a danger the bridge could collapse, that is why it needs immediate renovation”. However, the governor could not give any reasons why work to repair the bridge has yet to be started.

Petre Tsiskarishvili, Governor of Kakheti, refused to make any comments to the Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre about the issue in question.

The inhabitants of Samtatskaro ask organizations working on human rights to protect their rights. The population of the region also threatens to hold protests. “The officials are still making money through smuggling; poor people are the only victims of the bridge closure. The government tries to destroy any relationship we have with the inhabitants of Saingilo. We will do anything to prevent them from achieving this and vow to maintain contact with our relatives”, warn the people of the region.

Gela Mtivlishvili from Kakheti