Samtskhe-Javakheti. Civil Society Organizations of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region appeal to the Government of Georgia and the International Organisations Operating in Georgia.

“We, representatives of the civil society organisations (CSOs) of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, condemn the Russian aggression in Ukraine. We support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their struggle.   

The Russian aggression endangers international peace, freedom, and values of democratic development. At the same time, it poses a threat to our region. In particular, this war has exposed the risks facing the Samtskhe-Javakheti region due to its economic, financial and informational dependence on Russia: Many people from this region have been living and working in Russia and financially supporting their families for years. Some of them used to go there for seasonal work. Moreover, Russia’s propaganda media outlets remain a central source of information for the region.

We have pointed to these risks before. Nowadays, because of the sanctions imposed by the international community on Russia, the remittance flows from there are likely to sink and our population will most probably return to the region. Overall, the unemployment rate in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region will rise and the social background will deteriorate. 

Based on the above-discussed, we, representatives of Samtskhe-Javakheti CSOs, call on the Government of Georgia and International Organisations operating in Georgia to take these risks into account, turn them into perspectives, and use this window of opportunity for the benefit of the local community”.

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Source: The page of the Union of Democrat Meskhs on the social network