How one photo changed the life of a needful family living on the outskirts – in ‘Africa’ settlement

Nugzar Aluashvili is the father of six children living in a 30 sq.m. house on the outskirts of Tbilisi, in a settlement colloquially called ‘Africa.’ The father is raising his children all alone, as his wife died several years ago – though he has little money to do so.

A photo of Nugzar Aluashvili and his under aged son went viral on social media among Georgian users yesterday, after Tbilisi Municipal Inspection dismantled illegally constructed buildings in the ‘Africa’ settlement.

• UPDATE: 8 detained while protesting deconstruction of illegally constructed buildings in ‘Africa’ settlement in Tbilisi released

Initially it was reported that the City Hall had demolished the only house of the Aluashvil family, but it was later revealed that their building was not among the deconstructed ones. However, the family has to live in difficult economic conditions.

At the end of yesterday, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze decided to gift an apartment to the Aluashvili family.

This man has to raise six children alone. This is heroism for me. It is very important for me to support him… In the face of so much hatred, slander and lies, the happiness of this family is the result of today for me”, wrote Kaladze on Facebook.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze gifted a house to Nugzar Aluashvili's family. Photo: Kakha Kaladze/Facebook.

In an interview with Ambebi.ge Nugzar Aluashvili’s son Aleko Aluashvili said that his mother died several years ago. He is an employee of Tbilservice group (cleaning service). His family is impoverished, and his children receive state support, though life is still difficult for them.

In addition to the seven-member Aluashvili’s family, Nuzar Aluashvili’s four grandchildren also live in a 30 square meter house in the ‘Africa’ settlement.

Tbilisi Municipal Inspection dismantled twelve illegally constructed residential buildings in the ‘Africa’ settlement in Tbilisi yesterday, which led to a confrontation between the local population and law enforcers.

Locals said nobody warned them in advance about the demolitions, while the Tbilisi City Hall stated that the individuals were several times warned about their illegal actions and that their buildings would be deconstructed.

Later after the demolitions, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said nobody was left without a shelter and published a list of the individuals who own other properties in Tbilisi and other regions of Georgia. Kaladze said some of them own four cars, thousands of hectares of lands and several houses in Tbilisi.