Story of Pictures

This picture is taken in Village Khurcha, Zugdidi region, the only village which is located onther other side of Enguri River, naturallty deviding Georgia from Abkhazia. The horse in the picture is in Khurcha but the other side of the water is Abkhazia, Gali region. Yes, this is striking...that's how far Georgia and Abkhazia are from each other.

This picture is again in village Khurcha. The water in the above picture is the same as here. There is a bridge, but only school children and teachers are allowed to cross in order to go to the nearest school, located in Gali region. You also see a a Russian FSB border guard standing in the close proximity from children. Locals say Russians build several military bases in Gali region. Crossing the boundary line is almost impossible now, but people in Zugdidi region have relatives in Gali region. Local Georgians say if Russians cought them while crossing the boundray, they take to Gali Police station and then either they are fined or arrested, depending in the mood they are there.

This is a picture of an IDP family from Ochamchire region of Abkhazia. Picture is taken some 30 years ago. Now, they are all in grey hair, wrinkled and stressed due to 20 years of displacement. They live in a collective centre (below picture), in grave conditions. When I asked them what was the greatest loss inflicted on them as a result of the war, answer was: "time - which we lost in displacement."
A collective centre.


This picture is taken in Ergneti village of Gori region after the war. White building that you see on the horizon is Tskhinvali Town. It is 2 km away from Ergneti. Almost 80% of around 200 houses were burnded down in Ergenti by Ossetian militias. Two pictures are bellow.

A new cottage you see with a burned house, was build by and international NGO as a temporary shelter before the house is restored. Cottegees were build for elderly population who remained in the village.

The owner said he had 14 rooms in this house.

(to be continued)