In August 2021, the Democracy Research Institute studied the situation in the villages located along the occupation line. In order to explore the problems of the population living near the occupation line, we visited the villages of Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi municipalities: Ganmukhuri, Khurcha, Orsantia, Rukhi, Muzhavi community, Pakhulani community and Potskho-Etseri IDP settlement.

The visit convinced us that the central and local authorities do not pay due attention to the socio-economic or infrastructural problems of the villages located along the occupation line. It is obvious that the competencies and responsibilities of the local and central authorities in the villages bordering the occupation zone are mixed up. The security of the population is "ensured" at the expense of their isolation and, in some cases, at the expense of their intimidation and neglect of their rights. The Democracy Research Institute believes that isolation harms people living along the occupation line, violates their rights and deprives them of opportunities for free development. Such a high degree of isolation gives an impression that the villages along the occupation line are formally controlled by the central authorities (through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service), although the interests of the local population are also restricted by the occupation regime.

Problems faced by population living along the occupation line (Ganmukhuri, Khurcha, Orsantia, Rukhi, Potskho-Etseri IDP settlement, Muzhavi and Pakhulani community)