Georgia: local residents fall victim of illegal property seizures

In early 2011, Transparency International Georgia began to actively work towards the better protection of property rights.

Eka Bokuchava

Gia Gvilava

In May of this year, TI Georgia visited several west Georgian settlements (Anaklia, Grigoleti and Gonio)
where they met with affected local populations. Gia Gvilava and Eka Bokuchava, both lawyers at the office, report from their visits and Temo Ovchiev provides some videos of the interviews.

Anaklia: “The court made a startling decision so that I couldn’t prove the land was mine”

During the Anaklia visit, we discovered that, because of Zugdidi-Anaklia road construction, about 30 local residents’ property had been taken away.

Construction work began without the permission of the owners. Moreover, there was initially no compensation offered to the local population. Compensation was made only after the seized territory had been covered with newly built infrastructure. Road construction still continues in the region.

Read more and watch more videos here