How Women Live in Khurcha, Near the Dividing Line
The article “Constant Escape – How Women Live in Khurcha, Near the Dividing Line” tells the story of women living along the occupation line with Abkhazia.
Two regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, 20% of the country’s territory – is occupied by Russia. One occupation line passes through the villages of the Tskhinvali region, and the other through Abkhazia. The article looks at the women living in the village of Khurcha, located along the occupation line near occupied Abkhazia, who have to live and raise their children under a constant fear of danger.
The main character, Eliso Shamatava, is originally from the village of Okumi, Gali district. She was 19 when she became an internally displaced person. Later she started a family and settled in Khurcha.
Eliso says that her life is a story of constant running away, fighting and refusing to give up.
“Exactly when we had to choose our life path, we had to fight for our existence. We went straight from childhood to responsibility. The period of youth was removed from our lives, we missed it,” says Eliso, summarizing the life of women of her generation.
Eliso’s village of Khurcha borders Nabakev, a village located in occupied Abkhazia. In Khurcha, at least one person from each of the 85 families living there has emigrated, which is an echo of the general socioeconomic background of the country. Those who have not yet left live off agriculture and cattle-breeding. They have livestock, which they often lose, because cattle recognize no borders. When cows cross the river into occupied Abkhazia, the women living at the dividing line are often left without the sole source of income for their families. This makes their lives even more difficult.
The people living on the two sides of the dividing line are friends and relatives, but now they can’t meet, or only rarely.
The Russian-backed war in Abkhazia began in August 1992 and lasted for 13 months. By the end of the war, Georgia had 300,000 internally displaced persons. Russians and Abkhazians forced ethnic Georgians to flee their homes.
About the Author
Manana Kveliashvili is a seasoned documentary filmmaker and journalist based in Georgia, boasting nearly two decades of experience in her field. Before becoming part of the Batumeli Netgazeti team in 2012, she collaborated with various local media organizations. Manana’s work is dedicated to capturing real stories through powerful documentaries, addressing pressing social issues including gender equality, marginalized minority groups, women’s labor, environmental concerns, poverty, and the enduring legacy of Soviet repression in Georgia.