The ministry in charge of displaced persons and refugees reiterated on August 31, that alternative accommodation for internally displaced persons evicted from the state-owned buildings in Tbilisi in recent weeks was only available in rural areas.

An official from the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees told a group of IDPs, who are on hunger strike outside the ministry building demanding alternative accommodation in the capital city, that apart of receiving alternative dwelling space in ownership, they would also be provided with “permanent assistance” from the authorities.

IDPs are against of moving to rural areas, citing no job opportunities there.

Eka Gulua, a spokesman for the ministry, said, that IDPs were offered alternative accommodation in various provincial districts, including in Chkhorotsku, Khobi, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha and Abasha in western region of Samegrelo, as well as in Bakurtskikhe in Kakheti region in eastern Georgia.

“All the necessary living conditions” are available in those locations, she said.

“These [dwelling] spaces will be transferred in ownership to displaced persons; apart of this, we will provide them permanent assistance involving healthcare and other issues. IDPs say they are against moving to the village of Potskho; but there are other locations as well and in case of their consent we are ready to help them with transportation right now,” she added.