Agreement of Gori City Hall and the Ministry of Defense

Lado Bitchasvhili, Shida Kartli

On July 28, in Gori, the people who live near the military polygon had a demonstration requesting to move the firing ground. According to the participants of the demonstration, because of the ground movements caused by the military trainings the walls of cottages of IDPs who live in “Verkhvebi” housing estate have cracked. 

“In 2009, with the request of moving the firing ground, we collected signatures and sent them to the Ministry of Defense, however we  were rejected. Since then, we are sending letters constantly but there is no response,”-said the resident of “Verkhvebi” housing estate, Dali Koniashvili. 

A representative of Gori City Hall Soso Mindiashvili met the participants of the demonstration. He called on the assembled people to disperse and said that the agreement was reached between Gori City Hall and the Ministry of Defense:” From tomorrow, it will be prohibited to shoot from large-caliber weapons”. 

After two days of the statement by the representative of Gori City Hall, the shootings resumed, including from large-caliber weapons. The locals protested again and required from the city government to fulfill the promise. 

“They have promised that today there won’t be shootings, however we can still hear explosions since the morning. Everything is shacking in the house, the walls have cracks. We are without help,”- said the local Lena Kamkhadze.

After the military trainings and shootings have resumed, Gori City Hall spread the statement according to which it will be prohibited to use large-caliber weapons on Gori military polygon from, July 30. The representatives of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense informed the Mayor of Gori municipality about this decision during the meeting.