Two Georgian villages including one across occupation line to receive highland status

The villages of Odzisi (a village on the occupation line) and Prezeti in Georgia’s eastern region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti will receive highland status, which will benefit about 1,200 inhabitants with improved social conditions, announced Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze.

The village of Odzisi is located near the administrative boundary line separating the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country, while the village of Prezeti is inhabited by internally displaced persons. These villages will receive highland status, which provides a number of benefits for the local population – supplements for education, health and sports workers and retirees. The state also offers benefits to small entrepreneurs”, said Karseladze.

A total of 1,200 people living in the villages of Odzisi and Prezeti will enjoy the benefits starting 2022.

• Pensioners of highland areas to receive 300 GEL pension starting July 2020

There are 1,797 high mountainous settlements throughout Georgia as of now.

In 2016-2021, the Georgian government spent about 320 million GEL on the social empowerment of people living in highland settlements.