Ethnic Azeri's Bridge Was Sold At the Governor's Office

The Azeri population of the village of Tedotsminda in Gori district does not have a bridge over the river Liakhvi anymore, and villagers fall into the water trying to cross on a cable. Tragic accidents have already happened. However, nobody helped them. The villagers need to cross the river in order to take water from the stream on the other side.

A multiethnic population inhabits the village of Tedotsminda. Georgians, Azeris and Ossetians have lived together in the area for centuries. The village is situated 100 meters from the Gori-Variani highway and includes the village of Tiniskhidi. Marlen Nadiradze, former Deputy Governor and present Gori District Councilor, lives in Tiniskhidi. Residents of Tedostsminda have had problems about water for six years already.

Ziati Lamazoghli said, "We have to bring water from the stream on the other side of the Liakhvi. The stream disappears in mud when the river floods. Then, we have to clear out the stream. We need a lot of water when somebody dies in the village. Everybody fetches water then."

At present, the villagers use a narrow cable to cross the river. People have often fallen into the river because of the cable is so narrow.

Soinoghli said, "I have fallen from the bridge. I was lucky to survive. Only my collar-bone was injured."

Local population says that the 2-3 kilometers long iron which was bought to make a bridge despaired several years ago. Some men arrived here in a car '07' and told us that they had bought the iron from the regional administrative board," said the villagers.