Tbilisi Mayor Presents Apartment to a Family from the Africa Settlement

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze is gifting an apartment to a family from Tbilisi's Africa settlement, whose photos were spread on social media this week during the process of dismantling of buildings by the Tbilisi City Hall. Kaladze wrote about it on his Facebook page, noting that no-one lived in the illegally constructed buildings, which were dismantled on Tuesday. He added that other illegally constructed facilities are also located in the surrounding area, in which families do live, although these have not been dismantled.

"I say with full responsibility that not a single person lived in these buildings under deconstruction. Lands have been looted in the surrounding areas, and there are illegally constructed buildings where certain families live. No-one has touched those houses or those people," he said. 

With regards to the photo of a father and son watching the process of dismantling the buildings which spread in social media, the Mayor said that despite the released disinformation, they do not live in the buildings that were dismantled Tuesday, but live nearby and were merely watching the developments in the neighborhood. 

"Later, photos of me and my children were attached to their photo. I can't be angry about it, and I'm not surprised," Kaladze said. "What else can you say to such people? Such behavior is their choice. The main thing for me this time is that when I can help, I help. Heroism is a man alone raising six children. That father is a hero and it is very important for me to support him. I found out in the evening what conditions he lives in, and my personal gift, on behalf of my family, will be an apartment for his family.

"Against the background of so much hatred, slander and lies, the happiness of this family is the result of today for me," Kaladze wrote.

For the record, on Tuesday, a confrontation occurred between law enforcers and the population in Tbilisi's Afrika settlement, where Tbilisi City Hall employees started dismantling illegally constructed buildings. Locals were trying to preventworkers from completing their work.

8 persons detained during the confrontation were later released.

By Ana Dumbadze 

Related Story: 8 Detained During Confrontation in Afrika Settlement Released