Officials Spar over Resettled IDPs
Minister of Refugees and Accommodation Giorgi Kheviashvili and Temur Mzhavia, chairman of the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz Supreme Council-in-exile slammed each other while debating in a live political talk-show aired by the Imedi television on July 3 over authorities? policy to rehouse hundreds of internally displaced persons from the hotels in Adjara.
State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava has also criticized authorities of the Adjara Autonomous Republic for using high-handed tactics and as he put it ?violence? while resettling IDPs from hotels.
In late June riot police forced dozens of internally displaced persons to vacate the Meskheli hotel in Batumi. The hotel was bought by the Kazakh TuranAlem Bank and the investor pledge to pay USD 7 000 to each IDP family living in the hotel. While some of them agreed to receive the sum, others protested demanding more, or claiming that list of recipients was made up incorrectly and some of the families were left without any compensation.
Angered on the Georgian authorities, up to 50 internally displaced persons said they will denounce Georgian citizenship and recognize authorities of breakaway Abkhazia. But the announcement has not been materialized.
?What has happened in Batumi and use force [against IDPS] is an expression of [Adjara?s] local authorities? stupidity and weakness. Everything should be done to find a common language with you own people,? Giorgi Khaindrava, the State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues, said in a televised talks show on July 3.
Temur Mzhavia, chairman of the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz Supreme Council-in-exile, accused the Minister of Refugees and Accommodation for having no communication with the internally displaced persons and the Abkhaz authorities-in-exile.
?It is your problem if there is lack of communication, not mine,? Giorgi Kheviashvili, the Minister of Refugees and Accommodation, responded.
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