People Deported from Russia Are being Evicted from Shelter

A family, deported form Russia, will remain without shelter. The Kvaratskhelias’ family expects the government to keep its promise on assisting the deported family; however nobody has paid attention to them yet. Moreover, they have been deprived from the right to live in a poor cellar of one of the dormitories.

Thousands of Georgian people, who resided in Russia, had their rights violated because of complicated political relationships between Georgia and Russia. They spent some time in isolators in the expectation of deportation. Because of severe and inhuman conditions there several Georgian people died. One of them was Manana Djabelia.

Fifty-one year old Djabelia spent several days in an isolator together with other Georgians. Although her documents were in order and she should not have been deported, she was placed in an isolator. On December 2, 2006 Djabelia died. She was buried in Tbilisi. Although her family-husband and three sons-did not have a house in Georgia, the government promised them their assistance. Meanwhile they were lodged in a small flat of 18 square meters that belonged to their aunt. Twelve people lived in that tiny room for more than five months. The aunt is an IDP from Abkhazia too. She has been living in a dormitory in 42 Vazha Pshavela Ave. with her family for fifteen years already.  

The aunt said that the flat is too little to live in. They spread mattresses on the floor to sleep on. Because of the situation, the deported family decided to move to the room of former lab in the same building. However, law enforcers did not let them to. The family urges the government for help.

“You can observe how many people live in this situation here. Can a normal person live in such a flat? It is impossible to place twelve people here. We do not demand something incredible. If they do not let us move into that abandoned room, let them at least not take this room away. We have no more shelter and they should not leave twelve people in the street,” said Shakhi Kvaratskhelia.

Sons of Manana Djabelia said that their mother became a victim of harsh political relationships between two countries and they should not have problems in Georgia. “My mother became a victim of this government, Georgia and the politics of this country. She was completely healthy and never complained of anything. She was placed into an isolator because of her Georgian ethnicity. Thus, the government is obliged to give a shelter to her family,” said Gogita Kvaratskhelia.

Although, the government promised them assistance, the family is not allowed into a pulled down room either. Human Rights Center tried to find out the fate of the family and the building at the Ministry of Economy, but nobody could answer their questions there. 

The Kvaratskhelias said that they are going to apply to international and local human right organizations for help. If they are evicted from their aunt’s flat, they would have to live in the street.

Eka Gulua