Georgian Parliament Members Raise Concerns Over Land Transfer to Russian Businessman in Racha-Lechkhumi-Lower Svaneti
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, July 27, 2023
During a joint briefing, parliament members Khatuna Samnidze, Teona Akubardia, and Tamar Kordzaia stated that the government granted businessman Davit Khidasheli a territory of 104,712 square meters in Racha-Lechkhumi-Lower Svaneti for a mere 11 GEL, valid for a period of 49 years.
The MPs expressed their concern over the transfer of lands and forests in Racha-Lechkhumi-Lower Svaneti, emphasizing that prioritizing the interests of a Russian businessman over the well-being of the local population amounts to enmity and betrayal of the country.
"A few days ago, Khatuna Samnidze, Teona Akubardia, and I were in the Racha-Lechkhumi-Lower Svaneti area, examining the territories that the Georgian government granted to companies under the influence of Russian oligarchs for a 49-year management. The scale of these territories is 104,712 square meters, which accounts for 4.1% of Georgia's total territory. These lands were given to Khidasheli, a well-known figure to Georgian citizens as the instigator and creator of the Davit Gareji conflict. Moreover, he is regarded as an unreliable partner due to his failure to fulfill investment obligations after purchasing a hotel in Akhtala. Numerous legal disputes related to this matter are ongoing, both in the court and the prosecutor's office. However, Davit Khidasheli seems to be untouchable, and no issues have been brought forward, as both non-governmental organizations and local residents are involved in the disputes," Kordzaia said.
Kordzaia expressed that they firmly believe that the encroachment on lands, forests, and the interests of local residents in Racha, Lechkhumi, and Lower Svaneti, in favor of Russian businessmen, constitutes an act of enmity and betrayal towards the country. According to MPs, the betrayal lies in the fact that the World WIde Fund for Nature offered to buy it at $45 per meter to preserve its ecosystems. However, to their dismay, the Georgian government instead sold it to the Russian businessman Khidasheli for a mere 11 GEL.
According to Khatuna Samnidze, the fact that Mr. Sabanadze, the former mayor of Oni, was employed by Davit Khidasheli's company indicates a corrupt deal.
"This is a corrupt deal. The fact that Mr. Sabanadze, the former mayor of Oni, was very soon appointed as one of the directors of Mr. Khidasheli's company raises doubts about it.
224 plots of land have been transferred to the prosecutor's office - the state is disputing the ownership of its own citizens because these lands were included in the territory transferred to Khidasheli," said Samnidze.
According to Teona Akubardia, the transfer of the territory to a businessman with connections in Russia is, in fact, equal to Russian occupation.
The deputies state that they are initiating a study of this issue. They point out that the matter was not thoroughly examined from a security standpoint, and environmental protection concerns were not taken into account.
Tamar Kordzaia mentioned that the state has not disclosed the exact border of Khidasheli's property.
