What People Think: Truth of the Matter, War is far-from-over

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

The August events over the war jeopardized Georgia is now a moot point and not opened to be still questioned. It is also obvious that the emotions stirred up by August war have not subsided in the country till now. Moreover, there is no indication that they are being reduced; tension levels are still raised. Even though the Russians have withdrawn from Shida Kartli and Samegrelo Regions, they took with them lots of looted provisions. However, in spite of the pullback they still remain well dug-in in Akhalgori and Sachkhere districts. The Russians continue digging trenches in Perevi with the same degree of anxiety they demonstrated several weeks ago. All things considered, local conclude that the “war is not over yet”.

Despite the international community support and frequent visits of world-wide known politicians to Georgia, the situation remains to be critical. Nowadays mined territories and unexploded cluster bombs frighten the inhabitants of formerly occupied territories in much the same way that bombing from the air scared the people back during the short war in August.

Amid bombed territories and the stressed out and disillusioned people under extreme duress, especially in light of the unspecified death toll, there is one truth: the war is not over yet. The situation is tensed and this can be noticed everywhere: on official and non-official meetings, in streets, among families, and places where many people gather together. The government’s “conclusion” that Georgia won this war consoles only the government itself. Well, at least this is what people are thinking for now.

Guram Kharabadze, 45 physicists: “It is ridiculous even to consider who won and who lost the war. The government should be seeking to find a way out of the situation. It should not be claiming that we somehow it prevailed in the war. People are died. Most of the survivors have lost their homes. Can this make us happy? Permanent claims and TV displays of Russians’ low behavior, and how it is told over and over that that the looters even took the chamber pots; such recriminations won’t help out the situation. People, and of course the government, must start using some common sense in this situation.”

Lali Gureshidze, 51, a teacher: “I am convinced that nothing has changed in our country. It is good that the Russians are not bombing us anymore. However, we need to think about those people who lost their homes. They are still facing a very difficult situation. And do not forget those people who have returned to their homes but still cannot go out into their yards. I mean because of the mined territories. I think that the de-mining process will take much time. The statements of officials (and especially of the President of Georgia) about winning the war and regaining peace is a bit irritating to us. “

Zurab Chiradze, 69, an engineer: “I think that three wars in such a short period of time for the small country like ours is too many. I think it is the right time that the politicians studied something diplomacy and about people. Society should be allowed to stop suffering for the mistakes of the political leadership.  I am not saying anything about the territory we have lost due to the last war. No one knows when and at what price we will regain these territories (Kodori Gorge and Akhalgori District).  I think we have undergone through bitterness many times and we had enough. It is high time we be able to sleep in peace; let it be forever.”

Patman Otkhvani, 61 IDP: “We used to live in the Kodori Gorge. Terrible things happened there. The gorge threw up its hands and surrendered in half an hour. The Abkhazian government had not warned us to leave or said that we were facing a threat. However, it is useless to even speak about it now. Everything was lost over someone’s stupid ambitions. We handed over the gorge to Russians and Abkhazians. We can regain it only together with the agreement of Sokhumi. Otherwise, nothing will work. Now among lost territories we have Upper Abkhazia together with Abkhazia.”

Nana Chapidze, 27 a lawyer: “Russia was forced to withdraw its troops from Georgia. I think the last Russian soldier will leave our country soon. However, we are facing very serious problems. We will have to undertake a serious political battle to force Russian to leave Abkhazia and Samachablo (South Ossetia) once and forever. However, this will take more efforts, and I mean on a diplomatic and political level on the part of our government than compared to the last battle (August war) took”.

Liana Okujava, 57 IDP: “The story that occurred 15 years ago is now repeated. Georgia was overlapped by another wave of IDPs. I escaped from Sokhumi 15 years ago. I can perfectly understand the feelings of those people who were torn away from their soil. Many soldiers have died, civilians were harassed and no one knows what will happen with us next. I personally do not count on our government for anything. We are still occupied by the Russians. However, our government does not want to believe this. They distribute honor medals and congratulate on TV but on what I do not know.”

Beka Javakhadze, 21, student: “Do you really believe that the official number of killed in the Georgian- Russian war is tantamount to the actual number? I do not believe and I think no one believes. This is very bad. How long must we live with lies and pretend that everything is all right? Let’s look around. Russians are still in Georgia and I think they are not intending to leave anytime soon.”