**Tensions Flare as Authorities Attempt to Evict Families from Tbilisi Apartment Block**
In a dramatic showdown, police detained four residents in Tbilisi’s eastern Samgori district yesterday amid attempts by authorities to evict families from an apartment block deemed unsafe and illegally occupied. However, locals dispute the claims, arguing that they have been unfairly targeted and left with nowhere else to go.
The situation in Africa neighborhood escalated into intense scenes, with families, including children, sitting outside with their furniture and belongings surrounded by a heavy police presence. Some residents were seen confronting and arguing with enforcement officers, vowing to protest the eviction. A woman required medical assistance, while another was spotted on a rooftop, reportedly vowing to jump. A man also fainted as he was dragged away by police.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the four detained individuals were held on administrative charges of disobeying police orders. However, residents claim that they have been unfairly treated and left with no option but to occupy the building after being priced out of other accommodations due to rising rents.
**A Complex Situation**
The authorities argue that the apartment block is structurally unsafe and that only 39 families live there permanently, while 53 others who claimed residency did not actually reside there. They claim that some non-residents began renovation work just months ago with the intention of claiming compensation. However, residents dispute these claims, arguing that they have been unfairly targeted.
The permanent residents include 58 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 29 of whom have already been provided with housing by the state. Those without IDP status were offered either compensation or temporary rental assistance, according to Bureau representatives. Sopio Lokabidze, an official from the Enforcement Bureau, assured reporters that “talks are currently underway” and that each of the individuals permanently residing there will be provided with some form of housing.
However, locals claim that the building has been abandoned since they moved in three years ago and that the owner never appeared to reclaim it. They argue that they have cleaned and renovated the units themselves and maintain that the building is safe.
**A Broader Issue**
The eviction attempt raises concerns about the treatment of socially vulnerable families in Tbilisi. Kristine Narindashvili, one of the affected residents, said that hundreds of families have been affected by eviction, with many facing economic hardship and struggling to find alternative accommodation.
“This situation is not an isolated incident,” she said. “Absolutely all of those who live here and whom I know, hundreds of families, are socially vulnerable and below the poverty line.”
The only offers residents received in exchange for leaving the building were limited to covering rent for a duration that would last no more than three to five months.
**A Divided Response**
Some residents were also seen confronting crews from pro-government media outlets, accusing them of spreading false narratives about the eviction. “You spread false information,” one resident shouted as police escorted the crews from the scene.
The situation in Tbilisi’s Africa neighborhood has raised concerns about the treatment of vulnerable families and the role of pro-government media in shaping public opinion.
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