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Zardiaantkari: Results of the War and Burdens of Existence

January 27, 2015
 
Lado Bitchashvili, Shida Kartli 

On January 20, Public Defender presented special report “Zardiaantkari: Results of the War and Burdens of the Existence” in the Gori Civic Engagement Center. Representatives of nongovernmental organizations, City Mayor and Gori district governor attended the presentation.

According to the special report of the Ombudsman, majority of houses in Zardiaantkari village is damaged and unsuitable for inhabitance. Though, compensation in the amount of 15 000 USD was only allocated to 3 families whose houses were completely burnt down during the war. The village still remains without drinking and irrigation water, there is no gas supplied to the residents.

“The Georgian authorities reinstated their authority over the village of Zardiaantkari in summer of 2012. Though, due to acute social, economic and infrastructural problems people are unable to return to the village. Around 30 families affected by the conflict continue to live in a kindergarten building in Gori,” the special report reads.

According to the report, it is rather difficult today to identify the exact number of village population, as they constantly move between Zardiaantkari and Gori.

“Approximately 18 ethnic Georgian and 6 ethnic Ossetian families stay in the village and around 20 families from the village live in the building of Gori kindergarten. According to 2002 census, there were 117 residents in the village, out of which 68% were Georgians and 32% - Ossetians. During the 2008 war, 90-95% of village population left their houses and like other IDPs founded temporary shelter in other districts of Georgia,” the report reads.

The Public Defender requests improvement of living conditions for the inhabitants of Zardiaantkari village and petitions to the local and central authorities to subside communal bills for them in winter time. 

“There are concrete recommendations in the report both for local and central authorities. We do hope the cooperation will enhance in future and we will manage to implement those recommendations,” the Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili said.

According to the Gori district governor local and central authorities pay particular attention to the villages adjacent to the occupied territory.

“The scope of the issue of damaged houses is too large, so local budget cannot afford it. We expect help from the central government in order to finally resolve the problem of damaged houses,” said Davit Oniashvili, the district governor.

The Public Defender met the regional governor and presented recommendations about the improvement of current situation in Zardiaantkari and about creation living conditions for locals.

“There is clear compliance between our priorities and the public defender’s recommendations. We have started work and will continue hard work on the resolution of the problems of Zardiaantkari village population,” Shida Kartli regional governor Zurab Rusishvili said.

The Public Defender presented the special report to the population of Zardiaantkari village. Locals said their main request is to rehabilitate the houses damaged during the war. 

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