On December 25 of the past year, representatives of Public Defender visited village Vedzatkhevi in Dusheti Region, in order to study the problems facing the village at the spot.

According to the materials gathered by the Office of Public Defender concerning the case, Vedzatkhevi village is situated in an area of high landslide hazard and the conducted geo-engineering research has declared the village inappropriate for habitation.

As of today, 11 families reside in Vedzatkhevi village of Dusheti Region. Examination of the situation at site by the representatives of Public Defender revealed that the primary school has not been functioning in the village since 2005. Based on the decree of the Minister of Education and Science Vedzatkhevi village primary school has been optimized with Kvavili village public school. The distance between these two villages is 12 kilometers and in winter, considering the infrastructural situation, travelling this distance is basically impossible for the school students. Therefore, children living in the village are unable to exercise their right to education.

In addition there is no healthcare facility in the village Vedzatkhevi of Dusheti Region. Local residents are unable to receive medication in case of need. Local infrastructure is run down. The village can only be accessed through a walking path. As a result, population of Vedzatkhevi village of Dusheti Region is living in severe social and economic conditions; most of the residential houses are damaged and unsuitable for habitation and part of the local residents are registered in the unified database of socially vulnerable families. Population of Vedzatkhevi village is expecting to be relocated and provided appropriate living conditions to this date.

Considering all of the mentioned above, Public Defender addressed the Government of Georgia with a recommendation to take into account the severe social, economic and geological conditions of the village Vedzatkhevi of Dusheti Region and to ensure providing adequate aid to the local population within the positive obligation incurred through ratification of international agreements and national legislation.