Tserovani village IDPs benefit from new public service centre

Georgia’s internally displaced people (IDPs) living in a settlement in Tserovani village, just outside capital Tbilisi, can now access vital public services without leaving their village.

The IDPs, who years ago were forced to leave their homes due to conflict and unrest, settled in the village, located in the Mtskheta Municipality. Until now the community had to travel to the nearby municipal centre to access vital public services.

With support from Georgia’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani and the Mtskheta Municipal Government, a rural branch of State Service Development Agency (SSDA) has been moved from Mtskheta towship to Tserovani village. The rural facility, operating under the Ministry of Justice, focused on providing various important documents for Georgian citizens.  

A rural branch of the State Service Development Agency opened in Tserovani village yesterday. Photo by State Service Development Agency. 

The centre was officially opened yesterday at a special ceremony where Justice Ministry representative stressed the main aim of relocating the service centre was to ensure these IDPs – who have been living in the compact settlement since the Russia-Georgia war of 2008 – had access to state services. 

The Agency opened in Mtskheta in 2008. It is 12 kilometres from Tserovani village to Mtskheta and the people had to use several modes of transport to get to the place sometimes,” said SSDA head Shio Khetsuriani. 

Now the IDP community will be able to get all their necessary documents comfortably, including identify and transport cards,” Khetsuriani said.

He added a new Liberty Bank branch located next to the Agency would also allow locals to pay various expenses without leaving their village.