Two Georgian villages including one across occupation line to receive highland status
There are 1,797 high mountainous settlements throughout Georgia as of now. Photo: RFE/RL.
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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.
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.
People living in highland villages near the occupation line between Georgia and its Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) will soon get benefits granted by the Mountain Law, announced Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia at today's government meeting.
Georgia has updated its list of high mountainous settlements, meaning that locals of six more villages will enjoy special financial benefits, which will help them improve their living conditions and develop local small and medium-sized business.
In total 59 settlements, including 19 across the occupation line, will receive highland status in Georgia, which will benefit about 26,000 inhabitants with improved social conditions, announced Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia at today's government meeting.
Georgian pensioners older than 70 years old and who reside in the country’s highland areas will be paid a pension of 263 GEL ($90.41/€81.65) from January 1, 2020 and of 300 GEL ($103.13/€93.14) from July 1, 2020, announced Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia at a presentation held on the occasion of International Mountain Day earlier today.