10 August 2011, 09:00
Refugees in Tbilisi demand deferment of their eviction
The refugees in Tbilisi living in “Abkhazia” hotel ask for deferment of eviction. On August, 9, they held an action in front of the hotel demanding meeting with the investor.
The refugees received a notice of eviction on August, 5, the Ministry of the Affairs of Refugees gave them ten days time. According to the refugees, there are about 300 families in the hotel.
In exchange for leaving the hotel the authorities offer the refugees either unaccomplished flats in Rustavi or 10 000 dollars. The participants of the action are indignant: “We demand compensation for each person. The flats in Rustavi are unaccomplished, so why should we rent flats for this period?”.
The refugees from Tskhinval who have lived in the hotel over 20 years declared that they “are not going to give up without struggle”. They say that if they are evicted by force they will ask for an asylum in Tskhinval, “Georgia Online” reports.
The refugees are also planning an action of protest in front of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and ask this organization to be an intermediary in their negotiation with the authorities of Georgia, “Echo of the Caucasus” reports.
