Nana Pazhava, Zugdidi
Almost the entire perimeter of the border territory of Georgian-Abkhazian administrative border has been trenched for security. Russian military units continue constructing military facilities, to locate checkpoints, place gun installations and to dig a network of trenches. The local population seems to have adopted and reinforced a regime of occupation that is supported by separatists in the various Georgian villages in Abkhazia and near administrative border. However, in this process grave sites are disturbed and the occupying Russian troops defiled the graves of their Georgian ancestors. It appears that for the most part the graves have survived the network of trenches, as the Russians backed down on their original intentions because the local residents demanded Russian soldiers not to do this as it was not respecting their (Georgians’) memories. Russian military units tried to dig up Georgian graves in a total of three villages of Gali district-Pichori, Nabakevi and Zemo Barghebi. The Human Rights Center was able to access photos of the villages of Pichori and Gagidi where Russian soldiers have completed a serious of trenches.
A resident of the village of Pichori recalls the day when Georgian people defended the graves of those who came before at the village cemetery. The interviewees declined from revealing their identity because they might be perused by the Russians and separatists.
As one respondent, said but who did not want to share his name, “The cemetery is close to the village center. On that day, a neighbor woman told us that military vehicle of Russian soldiers approached the cemetery and intended to start digging fortifications. Five days before the Russians really warned us to remove our graves from the area because they wanted to start with their trenches there. However, we did not expect them to actually do what they claimed they had in mind.”
About 15 of us gathered at the cemetery. We saw 6 Russian soldiers there. One of them was apparently, their leader as he was answering our questions. We asked them not to disturb the graves. We reminded them that we, Russians and Georgians were both Orthodox Christians and disturbing graves was a grave sin for anyone who was Christian. Luckily, they changed their mind. They saw that if they would carry though and disturb the graves people would reach very negatively and even revolt against them.”
Even though the Pichora village cemeteries have been robbed for many years; most graves do not have iron fences the villagers continued burying their family on these looted cemeteries. It is noteworthy that many the IDPs from various districts of Abkhazia are buried here along side of the Pichorians themselves. This is because the deceased IDPs can not be buried in Ochamchire, Gudauta or Sokhumi- the districts of Abkhazia they actually come from. The IDPs of those deceased hope that one day they will be able to remove the bodies of their relatives from Pichora cemeteries back to their home town cemeteries and stop asking for graves for their deceased people. This is not the only instance when IDPs “borrow” temporary places on cemeteries for their departed loved ones. Such kind of things has happened in other parts of Georgia as well.
Because of the digging of Russian trenches and building of military facilities many agricultural plots and hazenut groves have been destroyed. Russian block-posts
were built in Pichora center as well. A Pichorian lady speaks about it in details.
“Russians strengthened their positions first in centre of Pichora. About 60 soldiers are stationed in the territory of a former tea processing factory. The soldiers have dug trenches all around the factory. A Georgian school is situated in 50 meters from the tea factory. 150 pupils study in this school. Even though the Russians do not disturb them, the teachers and pupils themselves feel intimidated. It is difficult for them to concentrate on their studies when you are constantly intimidated and feel stressed out. However, the school children are trying to cope with the situation the best that they can.
The Russians have set their second camp in close proximity to the Black Sea coast. Russians and Abkhazians were stationed in this area all together. They made very deep trenches there. Only the barrels of tank s and artillery can be seen when you look at the trenches. There was a big fight between Russian soldiers and Abkhaz militias in that camp, and one Abkhaz was wounded as a result. We heard that Abkhaz militias were moved from that camp as a result. They say only one Abkhaz is left. Meanwhile the Russians continue digging their trenches. There are a total of about 20 soldiers there.”
Tornike Kilanava, the representative of Georgian Administration of Gali district says that the attempt of Russian soldiers to dig graves is vandalistic act and this is when Russians are trying to play the role of the dove of peace in regulating the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict.
Tornike Kilanava: “The fact that the Russians refrained from disturbing the graves of Georgians was simply an expression of good will on the part of Russian soldiers. This does not mean that they took into consideration our traditions and that is why they did not dig up the graves out of respect. It appears in his instance that Russians were scared that the locals would get very angry in reaction. They do not want to make people angry, especially now when they are trying to win people’s hearts and minds and go about pretending that they are real peacekeepers. Russians are constantly trying to convince the Gali district inhabitants that they are not invaders but the guarantors of their security.”
Tornike Kilanava confirms the information that additional Russian forces were deployed in Gali. However, he denies the information that was imparted through the Georgian media that so called “Bargamian’s Battalion” (it is battalion which consisted mostly of Armenian soldiers). This battalion was involved in many war crimes during Georgian-Abkhazian war at the beginning of 1990s) and has been deployed to the Gali District. According to Georgian Administration of Gali District people with guns were brought to Gali District from Sokhumi in two buses several days ago. They are the employees of the anti-terrorism centre and there are many Armenians included among them. However, they have no connection with the real Bargamian’s Battalion.
Tornike Kilanava: “The head of the anti terrorist center is Iuri Anua. However, it is vague the aim of sending the anti-terrorist center representatives to the Gali District. Officially their responsibility is to tackle terrorists who might enter from Georgia; at least this is what they are claiming. However, their real aim is to bully Georgians, redistribute Georgian businesses in Gali district among each other and extort money. Those people who died in Gali district recently are the victims of criminal gang shoot outs.”
Tornike Kilanava’s these comments irritated the Abkhazian separatist government. On November 5 the statements against Kilanava were posted on an Abkhazian website. Beslan Arshba, head of Abkhazian Administration of Gali District has accused the Georgian media in distributing false and misleading information.
Beslan Arshba: “The information that Russians soldiers are planning to build their military bases on cemeteries is totally false. He considers it as being but sheer nonsense and such a thing would never happen. Tornike Kilanava does not know what dignity is all about. He makes up such false stories out of revenge and distributes these stories through various journalists like himself.”
Laurence Kogonia, the head of Abkhazian Police of Gali District confirms the fact that additional forces of Abkhazian security and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Abkhazia were deployed to the Gali District. He said it was caused by the possibility of Georgian sabotage acts has forced them to become more active. This is why he said Enguri Central Bridge was shut down on October 28 as a security precaution.
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