Georgian FM ‘heartbroken’ by death of Data Vanishvili - ‘a symbol of fight with Russian occupation’
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that he is ‘truly heartbroken’ by the recent death of Data Vanishvili, a man who has refused to leave his house in the village of Khurvaleti despite the fact the part of the house and his agricultural lands were occupied by Russians.
Truly heartbroken 2 hear of the loss of #DataVanishvili - a bold example of suppression through ????????'s creeping occupation, & a symbol of devotion 2 the homeland, ????????. My sincere condolences 2 the family of Mr. Vanishvili. May his soul rest in peace.
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) March 19, 2021
Vanishvili, also known as Data Papa, died aged 90 earlier today.
He has lived for about eight years isolated on the other side of the occupation line.
Back in 2011 Data Papa woke up to find that a barbed wire fence installed by Russian border guards had cut his house off from the rest of Georgia.
Not only the house but the agricultural land, his wheat fields, which formerly was his means of generating an income, were behind the barbed wire fence.
In 2015 Agenda.ge’s photographer Nino Alavidze and a political editor Lali Tsertsvadze visited Khurvaleti and spent Easter with the people who live there and are affected heavily by the barbed wire fences.
Data Vanishvili and his son, Malkhaz Vanishvili. Easter 2015. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
At Easter the Khurvaleti neighbourhood and the Vanishvili family used to gather on both sides of the barbed wire fence. Because of the barbed wire fence which acts as an artificial border in Khurvaleti and nearby villages, locals are now unable to visit cemeteries and roll an Easter egg on the graves of their beloved. But the Vanishvili family helped the villagers to pay their respects by taking Easter eggs, traditional Easter bread called Paska and candles to each grave at the cemetery.
Vanishvili was well-known for his activities against the occupation. He always spoke out loudly about the injustice and was not afraid of the Russian occupiers.
Vanishvili speaking with NATO PA president back in 2019. Photo: 1TV.
Back in 2019, when NATO PA President Madeleine Moon visited the occupation line, Data Papa told her the following words:
I am 88-years-old. I was born here, in the house, grew up here and Russians are now telling me that the territory is theirs...My daughter is unable to come and see me and my wife, who is ill now, as occupying forces are threatening her. I am unable to take my wife to the hospital. Others are controlling and harvesting my lands, giving me nothing. I am asking you-what can I do?”
Moon later stated that it was one of the most emotional days in her life.
Last year the occupation forces did not allow Vanishvili to leave his house.
That time he was in critical condition.