Tbilisi Mayor denies city involvement in Tvalchrelidze evictions

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze responded via a video message on social media to the controversy surrounding the eviction of residents from a building on Tvalchrelidze Street, stating that the property in question is privately owned and does not belong to the municipality or the people occupying it illegally.

Kaladze accused opposition parties of spreading disinformation throughout the day to mislead the public.

“I decided to make a video statement because people are being removed from buildings on Tvalchrelidze Street, which they had occupied illegally. A disinformation campaign has been ongoing, blaming the Tbilisi City Hall for the situation. The buildings are private property and not owned by the municipality or the individuals squatting there. Nevertheless, opposition media and social media platforms have launched a slanderous campaign claiming that ‘Kaladze and City Hall are evicting residents from their homes,’” he said.

According to the mayor, of the nine families registered in Tbilisi and residing at Tvalchrelidze N1, only three accepted the city’s offer for housing assistance. Two families received rental support, while one was ineligible due to owning property. The remaining families refused the offer or were not registered in Tbilisi.

“The municipality offered rental support to all registered residents two years ago, when the building was first occupied. They declined at the time. Our Social Welfare Agency also reached out and collected written refusals signed by the residents. Of the nine registered families, only three accepted our offer. Two will be assisted with rent, and one is ineligible due to existing property ownership. The others are not registered in Tbilisi, so the municipality has no legal means to intervene in their cases,” Kaladze explained.

He also rejected claims circulating online that the city is offering only three months of rent support, calling such statements false and misleading.

Kaladze said more than 200 people have been identified as illegally occupying the private building, including 58 individuals with internally displaced person (IDP) status. Most of them, he said, have already received support from the state, while others are undergoing the appropriate procedures.

The mayor emphasized that the municipality’s housing program for the homeless is ongoing, and all individuals who officially hold homeless status will eventually receive housing.

“I want to remind everyone that Tbilisi has a program for the homeless. All those with verified homeless status will gradually be provided with housing. In 2021, during the election campaign, I promised that no person with such status would be left without a home. There were about 400 such families, and by this fall, all will be accommodated. Of course, to receive this status, applicants must meet the criteria set by law,” Kaladze concluded.