200 internally displaced families receive new flats in Tbilisi

200 internally displaced families from the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia have received flats in Tbilisi’s Varketili district today.

Located in the ‘Tbilisi Sea New City’ district, the block of flats is part of the largest project of Chinese private corporation Hualing Group in Georgia.

While handing over the keys to new owners Georgia’s Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees Sozar Subari welcomed families into their new apartments.

Subari said the flats are fully equipped, and that access to water, gas and electricity has been provided for already so as to enable families to move in immediately.

IDP from Sokhumi, Abkhazia Inga Chochua, who has been displaced for over 20 years, said this will be the first time she and her family will be living in their own apartment.

Local parliamentary representative George Mosidze also welcomed the new families to the constituency.

I am happy that you have joined the constituency of our district… For the next four years, I will be your representative in parliament and you can address me to solve your problems”, Mosidze said.

Thousands of families were forced to leave their homes after the Georgia-Russia military armed conflict in August 2008.

More than 15, 000 internally displaced families have been given apartments since 2012, a practice the Government of Georgia says it plans to continue.