16:25, 18 May 2004

Refugees in Georgia accuse Russia of not giving aid

The leader of the People's Party of Georgian Refugees, Boris Kukubava, accuses Russia of not giving humanitarian aid. He stated in at a press conference in the Rosbalt news agency on May 17. According to Mr Kukubava, the entire world except Russia sends humanitarian aid to refugees from Abkhazia. "We were evicted from Abkhazia with the assistance of Russia, and we are not allowed in there now. We live in poverty in Georgia, live on $5-6 a month, and don't have jobs," he said.

The Georgian refuges intend to hold a congress in Tbilisi in the near future to discuss this problem. "We are going to appeal to the Russian and Georgian leadership and to the world community to complete the return of the refugees to Abkhazia and to save them from inevitable death. 12 thousand people will take part in the congress," Mr Kukubava announced.

Source: Rosbalt News Agency