Ossetians Abandon Kakheti Region Because of Unbearable Conditions

Ossetians, residing in various districts of Kakheti region, abandon the villages because of poor social conditions and they move to Vladikavkaz and Tskhinvali.

According to the data of territorial institutions of municipality boards the number of Ossetian residents in the villages of Pichkhovani and Argokhi in Akhmeta district, in the village of Tsitskanaantseri, in the village of Kitaani in Gurjaani district and in the village of Bolkvi in Lagodekhi district has been reduced during recent three years.

“Local ethnic Georgians and Ossetians have very good relationship; many families are relatives but because of social problems hundreds of families have either sold their houses or have abandoned them and moved either to Vladikavkaz or to Tskhinvali where they have relatives. The life is very difficult in the villages in Kakheti. There is no employment. We are far from the district center and even if there is some job in the town we cannot get employed there,” said the Ossetians who remained in the region.

For example, bus has not been running from district center to the village of Kitaani for a long time though locals have applied to the local government several times for the assistance; nearly 300 Ossetians live in this village. Private mini-buses do not run in the village because extremely damaged road. Public school was abolished in the village and children have to go to school in the next village 7 kilometers away.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti