Homeless Families in Dedoplistskaro Request Compensation

Lela Khechoshvili, Kakheti

Tamila Gurashvili has been homeless for three years; she lives in the former building of the military base in Leselidze Street in Dedoplistskaro. Currently, she lives in unbearable conditions together with her mother and child. Tamila had to leave her house in 2012; she had lived there for 20 years.

Tamila Gurashvili said according to the decree of the ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, former building of the military base was assigned to the insurance company Archimedes Global Georgia for 1 lari to construct a hospital in it. Besides, according to the decree, the company had to pay compensations to the families living in the building. However, the families have not received the compensations so far.

Tamila Gurashvili said, the document, which obliged the insurance company to pay compensations to the families, disappeared as soon as the new head of the Telavi district property management agency Koba Burkiashvili occupied the position. According to Gurashvili, she saw the document in the Telavi Property Management Agency. “I could never imagine that this document would disappear; otherwise I would have made a copy of it.”

Koba Burkiashvili said he did not have information about the document.

Dedoplistskaro municipal board chairman Zviad Javakhishvili said the former building of the military base was property of the Ministry of Economy and school also functioned there; but the building was damaged and school was removed. Afterwards the families settled there and they did not have information when the families were evicted.

“I do not know when eviction happened; I did not work here then. As for the assistance to homeless people, we pay their rents. We do not have enough funds to purchase flats for them,” Zviad Javakhishvili said.

Manager of the insurance company Archimedes Global Georgia Kakha Varadashvili said he received the property from the state with the obligation of further investments and construction of hospital in it. Varadashvili said they could just construct basement and could not continue building because the company went bankrupt. According to Varadashvili, the state will receive the property back. As for the compensation, Varadashvili said Archimedes Global Georgia did not promise any compensation to people.

“If our representative promised financial reimbursement to Tamila Gurashvili and she can provide relevant document, then she must show it. We do not have similar documents on our side,” Kakha Varadashvili said.

Tamila Gurashvili requests alternative accommodation.

“They brought vehicles and started deconstruction. Entire building was shaking and we all ran out scared. They morally destroyed us. When they started deconstruction of the building, I was inside it together with my little child and did not intend to leave the space. Then they brought police; they showed property documents where Archimedes Global Georgia was the building owner. I had nowhere to go and asked them to give alternative space to me; however I have not received any compensation yet,” Tamila Gurashvili said.

Gurashvili said she was sacked from job short time ago; she lost social allowance too and now the family lives on her mother’s pension. 

“We live in poverty; the flat owner increased the rent and now asks 100 lari. Local authority reimburses 60 lari of it and I have to add the rest. I was restored to the job for one month but what will happen next month, I do not know; I am very afraid,” Gurashvili told humanrights.ge.

Tamila Gurashvili urges government for help; otherwise she will appeal the court.