Media logo
Georgia

Tbilisi homeless hold rally for their rights

Tbilisi homeless hold rally for their rights

Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence.

For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is  afraid will get out.

Help us fuel Aliyev’s fears — become an OC Media member today

Become a member
(Tatia Giorgashvili/ OC Media)

On 10 February, up to 50 homeless activists held a demonstration in front of the Tbilisi City Assembly building, to speak up for their rights.

In 2015, the Tbilisi City Assembly passed a resolution to record and provide assistance to the city’s homeless people. About 5,000 people living in Tbilisi are recognised as homeless. Seven months ago they were notified by the city assembly that a special commission had been created to help them; however, people are still waiting for the commission to take action.

The main reason for today’s demonstration was to remind the public and the city assembly that there are people who need their help.

Seventy-one-year-old Tamar Chabashvili has been homeless since 2003. She is currently staying with her relatives, and doesn’t receive social aid. Several of the protesters, including Chabashvili, expressed scepticism that these demonstrations will bring any results; their lives are the same as in 2003. ‘However, we’ll keep fighting anyways, it’s better than doing nothing’, she says.

The leader of the demonstration, David Khvadagiani, announced that he’s not sure if the commission even exists. He says, ‘last Monday we were protesting, today we are protesting again, and we’re not going to stop until we reach our goal’.

Tbilisi City Assembly refused to comment on either the demonstration or the commission.

Related Articles

Irakli Zarkua. Official photo.
Georgia

Georgian Dream MP proposes dismissal of ‘destructive’ ambassadors from Georgia

Avatar

Georgian Dream MP Irakli Zarkua has proposed expelling foreign ambassadors critical of the Georgian government, with particular emphasis on German Ambassador Peter Fischer. Zarkua criticised foreign ambassadors on Tuesday while speaking to reporters in parliament. ‘This is my subjective opinion: ambassadors who are being destructive, replacing radicals and acting against the state, I believe they should be expelled’, he said, according to IPN . He first listed British Ambassador Gareth Ward a

Most Popular

Editor‘s Picks