ГЕОРГИЯ

Ref. 0521-0487

Julieta Bobokhidze, 65 years old.

In Abkhazia we lived in Sokhumi, village Iastva. We had two-story building with a yard. I planted orchard with my own hands. My husband was a tailor. I was working with him. My elder son was 14 years old. My daughter was 13 years old and the youngest son 8 years old. We left Abkhazia in 1993 after we lost Sokhumi through the mountains of Svaneti. My husband was captivated in Gudauta when the war started – they treated him badly saying that Georgians were not deserving anything. He came out without clothes. They robbed him first. He was doomed to be executed, but there was one Abkhazian who saved him – a guy who had been his customer before.

When we came here, we lived 5 people in one room. We were sharing two pillows and two beds. I am sick constantly on medication.

Ref. 0521-0647

Ref. 0521-0273

Svetlana Chivadze, 63 years old.

I am from village Akhalsopeli, Gudauta district, Abkhazia. I lived there for 17 years. Before the war, I was working at the hotel – kind of boarding house where people were having vacations. I was married and we had two children – a girl and a boy. My husband was also working. Children were studying. My grandmother was retired. We lived in a very good and big house. We even had a car.

20 years ago, my husband died.

My son at the age of 22 died after the war in 1998 in Gali district, at that time the war was over but he lived there and was working as a policeman. Because he was a Georgian, there was many tensions and problems he was facing at that time. When my son died, I was 43 years old. Now, I have one daughter who is married and I have two grandchildren living in Zestaponi, Imereti region. I only have a pension that is for everyone at my age. Healthwise, I have nervous issues and I am always cold – that is why I have warm clothes on even during the summertime.

We are also waiting to leave this place and move to a new flat. I live with my farther here who is 94 years old. I do not even have a hope – if the government gives a flat, I do not know how to move out there without necessary furniture.

Ref. 0521-0180

Ref. 0421-0254

Ref. 0521-0220

Medea Ugrekhelidze, 62 years old.

I lived in Ochamchire, village Tsagera. I had a private house and a yard. I was a housewife but my husband was working. Our life was normal. In 1993 we left the place without any clothes. My three kids were completely barefoot. My husband stayed there for like 6 months after we lost Sokhumi. We directly came here. Then we moved out to Batumi where we received a flat from the government. But suddenly my daughter who was 30 years old got sick and we could not do anything. We decided to take a loan from a bank on that flat. We took our daughter in TUREKY for treatment.

Meanwhile we could not pay back this loan and we lost this flat. Because of these hard times my husband had a stroke and passed away. After one year my daughter also passed away. We continued to live here because there is no place to go. Healthwise, I am also sick. I have this hypertension as well as heart diseases. Currently I have one son here with his children. I even think to kill myself sometimes. My grandchildren do not have future. We are not eligible to receive a flat again. We cannot pay a rent. My pension is not enough on medication let alone a rent.

Ref. 0521-0446

Ref. 0521-0778

Ref. 0521-0225

Ref. 0521-0497

Nino Jeladze, 49 years old.

I am from Gudauta district, village Akhalsopeli. I had normal life as everybody else in Abkhazia at that time. I had a big house and yard (citrus orchards) after the conflict I moved to Tskaltubo collective center Sanatorium “Medea”. I got married here and raised two kids. Now I have three grandchildren. The living condition in collective center is very poor the roof is licking during the summertime. There are so many reptiles in basement. I have a disability pension and social allowance as all my neighbor I am waiting for a new flat.

Ref. 0521-0941

Nugzari Samakashvili, 69 years old.

I lived in Gagra, Chamba street second line. Our house was former geological house, it had a yard. I was working in the mountains. We had two kids. One was studying at school and another at the kindergarten. We moved here in 1992. Since then, it has always been hard – hunger, cold – we used recycle bins and make stoves from it to have some heating in winter and not to dye from freezing. In such a suffering we have come this far. My son died during the August war, in 2008 on 8th of August in Senaki. His child has a pension from the government. So, do I. We need everything. Healthwise, I had heart stroke two times.

Ref. 0521-0557

Nunu Janashia, 82 years old.

I lived in Ochamchire district, village Akhaldaba. I was working as an administrator at the Soviet cottages for 17 years where people were coming for vacation. Till the last day I was working there, even when the war started, I took the road back to home by foot. We had a house and a nice garden. We were raising cattle. Our village was one of the very rich in the Ochamchire district because of Black sea coastline being very close. Many people from various Soviet Union countries were visiting the place. We were living 7 of us in the family. When the war started, it was impossible to hide anywhere from the bullets. How can I tell what I was feeling – how possible that is now?! We lost relatives, my cousin was lost and nobody know where.

We came out of Abkhazia in 1993, for two weeks we were in Zugdidi, then moved to Martvili where my relatives hosted us for 3 years. Then we left and came here in the Sanatorium “Kolkheti”. The only hope I have is my neighbors here and my brother who also lives here in this sanatorium. I have my room here but is that even a room?! I did not have my own family – never married anybody. My only means is pension. I need to take medicines every day.

Ref. 0521-0809

Ref. 0421-0171

Tamara Sordia, 84 years old.

I am from village Kolkhida, Gagra district. I was single, lived with my parents. I was working in the collective farms as everybody else during that time. We were digging and hoeing the tangerine plantations. There were also vineyards, corns that belonged to collective farms. I left in 1992 when the war started. I am calculating every year and it’s 29 years passed already. I live all alone since then. I have diabetics, also underwent three operations. I do not have heating here; I am always cold.

Ref. 0521-0354

Ref. 0521-1012

Dali Zhvania, 56 years old. I am from Gagra.

I had a family – three children and was raising them there. I was not working as I married at a very early age and needed to take care of the kids. We had everything there – huge yard, gardens with different fruits – tangerines, apples, everything. With my family I left Abkhazia in 1992. First, we landed in Tbilisi and then the government ensured our travel to Tskkaltubo by train. This building was damaged from the very beginning when we first arrived – it was not proper for living. Then the Ministry of IDPs renovated the roof and we had no choice but to continue living. We never had a separate toilet or bathroom. 12 families were sharing one toilet, let alone the bathroom. I have two daughters and one son who got recently married. I have diabetics and hypertension. My only wish is to have a flat to continue my life there at least to have my own toilet. I am not even at that age to receive the pension, which is even harder for me to live. All what I have I buy medicines – for hypertension and diabetics.

Ref. 0521-0266

Ref. 0621-0041

Svetlana Chivadze, 63 years old.

I am from village Akhalsopeli, Gudauta district, Abkhazia. I lived there for 17 years. Before the war, I was working at the hotel – kind of boarding house where people were having vacations. I was married and we had two children – a girl and a boy. My husband was also working. Children were studying. My grandmother was retired. We lived in a very good and big house. We even had a car. 20 years ago, my husband died. My son at the age of 22 died after the war in 1998 in Gali district, at that time the war was over but he lived there and was working as a policeman. Because he was a Georgian, there was many tensions and problems he was facing at that time. When my son died, I was 43 years old.

Ref. 0521-0161

Luara Gogilava, 67 years old.

I lived in the village “Kochara” Ochamchire district. We had a two-story house and also another small house inside one yard. We had tangerine as well as lemon plantations. We were not restricted to do agricultural activities. I was married, had two children. We were living altogether with my mother-in-law, farther in law, sister-in law. My husband died during the war on 6th of December in 1992 where there were massive attacks. We managed to bury him only on the cemetery that was belonging to somebody else before. Then we took the road.

I raised my kids in a hard condition. My son is now a policeman. My daughter is English language specialist but does not work right now. All my children are in Tbilisi. It’s only me here. If I ever be able to have my own flat, I do not even know how to live there. I have a pension and allowance that is for persons who lost their spouses during the war. My family has paid a lot for this war. I wake up 5 times in a night as all moments are coming to my head from the past.

Ref. 0521-0840

Ref. 0621-0004

Luisa Pirtskalava, 69 years old.

I lived in the flat in Gagra town, on street Mamkoda. I also had a private house where my parents were living. I would say that my family was strong. My brothers and I – we had everything. I was working in as the Deputy Accountant in one of the center Energastroy. Every single job I had was good – sometimes I was the head of the department or alike. It was an amazing life we had there. I had two kids but my husband died in early years of our marriage when I was expecting the second baby. My parents and brothers helped me to raised my kids. When Gagra was lost in 1992 4th of October we left our houses and moved to Adler – that belons to Russia. In 1992 9th of October we took a plane from there to return to Georgia. We directly came in this Sanatorium. We had TV, a rug but then they took all away.

My brother was wounded in the war and we had been waiting for him couple of days in Tbilisi. We came here and my brother died in a few days. My children graduated university. One of my child work but another does not. I have a pension and IDP allowance. I had operation on the neck – I had hernias and after the operation my neck verterba includes two plastic ones. Also, the same issue is for waist that is why my leg is paralised. More than half of my pension I spend on medications.

Ref. 0521-0638

Ref. 0521-0774

Ref. 0621-0019

Ref. 0521-0463

Zaira Kopaliani, 52 years old.

I am from Sokhumi. I lived with my parents in a huge house in Sokhumi town. The house had 14 rooms out of which 6 were bedrooms. It had a nice yard located in the city center. I can only say that I lived perfectly. I was born and raised in Sokhumi. I studied there and graduated Medical University in Sokhumi. After graduation I started working in Sokhumi First Clinic and continued working until the very last day – 16th of September in 1993. I had to stop working. Just in one week we lost Sokhumi and the whole territory. My entire family, we moved to Tskaltubo.

The condition was really devastating – there was no water, no electricity. We had to carry over the water from another places. From 1993 till 2000 it was hard. We all lived in one room, like 14 persons. I lost my parents, brother and sister in low. I see the future in dark colours because there is no hope for me. What we have is a social allowance. My one son is a sportsman but he got injured during the training and ca no longer practice. If I get a new flat, I would like to have gas and water heater and washing machine because it’s the really vital items for home.

Ref. 0521-0939

Ref. 0521-0547

Ref. 0521-0806

Tamila Kardava, 59 years old.

I lived in Sokhumi district, village Shroma. We had a three-story private house. I was a tailor and was working at the workshop. My husband was also working at the hospital there. It was good times there but here we have unbearable conditions. So many health problems I have right now, started here. I have pension and that is my income. We lived in another room that burned once. Then we moved in this one. One of my daughters was shocked when the room burnt and as a result, she has mental health problems for the past 11 years. She was 18 years old. Now she is 29 years old and need constant medication.

I have three daughters. They are married and have children. I have three grandchildren. My living condition is below Zero. I do not have even basic things.

Ref. 0521-0985

Ref. 0521-0727

Ref. 0521-0854

Sveta Tania, 66 years old.

We lived in Sokhumi but originally we were from Ochamchire region village Kochara. We had a private house. My husband was working at the factory was collecting tea leaves. We had four children. Two of them died. We had everything. All what we had was ours and therefore that was enough. 1992 we came here at the Sanatorium “Sakartvelo”. All my family members live in Sokhumi.

When we came, it was not bad here however financially and materially it was hard time. Then we got humanitarian assistance, but it was still hard. I have this state pension and social allowance of 50 GEL. I am sick. Nobody supports us. What is this pension enough for?! Nothing. We even do not have proper beds – I received a flat from the state but cannot move out there. We need everything – kitchen, gas, beds. With my pension I cannot buy anything. We received the flat last July.

Ref. 0521-0631

Ref. 0521-0694

Ref. 0521-0583

Ref. 0421-0244

Maro Gogoberishvili, 85 years old.

I lived in Gudauta town. We had a private house – a good two-story one. I was selling some stuff was kind of involved in wholesale trading – and we were making living with it. My husband was killed by Abkhazians during the war. He was not fighting himself but he was smuggled from the house and was killed in the woods. I even do not know where he is buried. The rest had to flee. With two children we left Gudauta in 1993. Our relationship with Abkhazians were not good – it was bed. Even though we were celebrating birthdays, giving presents to each other in the neighborhood, it was not good and how it is supposed to be.

My son got married and now lives in Tbilisi. We do not have anything here – only one bed that you can see and a table and these old stuffs.

Ref. 0521-0403

Luba Lesenka, 85 years old.

I lived in Ochamchire, village Tsagera. We had a private house as well as a flat. We lived perfectly. Everything was good. We lived perfectly. I have always been a hard-working person. I worked at the tea production entity that was there at that time.

I had a husband who was the senior constructor. We had three children – two sons and a daughter. Sons lived separately from us. My husband died in 1993 as well as my son died here in 1995. My second son also died but nobody know where – in Abkhazia probably – but we do not know where he is buried. He was a soldier. He was married and with all his family they went to. I have been working for 29 years here after we came, because I needed money. I tried to live my life with what I can do. So, I work.

On 1st of January, I had an operation, after a month I managed to continue working because I need money to buy medicine. I lost everything – I am alone. My son’s wife got a flat but I cannot live with them. I need peace.

Ref. 0521-0989

Ref. 0521-0053