Refugees ousted out of hotel in North Ossetia

Today, from the morning, the Vladikavkaz hotel named "Alan" began evicting the refugees from the 1992 Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. In total, 49 South-Ossetian families lived there that is, over 140 persons. The official reason for eviction is the emergency condition of the hotel.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that hotel "Alan" belongs to the trade unions of North Ossetia.

"Refugees lived in this building for 18 years. Now, we've found a solution to resettle them to the 'Kommunalschik' hotel belonging to the local housing and communal service, where they will be provided housing with payment for minimum services, heat and electricity at a rate of 1100 roubles per month," said Aslan Aidarov, deputy chair of the trade union association of North Ossetia.

"1100 roubles for communal services, for 4 or 5 square meters? What communal services can be there? One bed, light, cooking food or doing anything else is impossible," Mary Bitarova, former resident, put questions to Aslan Aidarov.

Aidarov has admitted that although some tenants had paid for communal utilities, most of them had not. He has emphasized that indebtedness started forming about eight years ago.

"The fire-fighting and municipal services have submitted a claim, showing the debts of more than 2 million roubles. Probably, the owner will have to sell the building and pay the debts, accumulated by the tenants," said Mr Aidarov.

According to his version, many tenants had thought that the building of the hotel would remain in their ownership, because they had lived there for a long time. Eviction is supervised by court marshals, as many people are against resettlement.

"We have 121 executive orders on eviction from the hotel 'Alan' of the persons illegally living there. As of today, we've removed most of them," said Aslan Tokaev, deputy head of the Department for North Ossetia of the Federal Service of Court Marshals.

"The court ruling says 'without providing any housing.' It's not the issue of marshals' service; however, we try to give them chances to rent rooms at 'Kommunalschik' hotel and accommodate them there. It is in the city and has all conditions," said Mr Tokaev.

However, some tenants believe that they are not resettled but just evicted.

"They say that the hostel where the move us is given for a year; and what will be after - nobody knows. Bosses promise to help," said a former hotel tenant, who preferred to remain anonymous.

"People did not pay, because the migration service was to do it. Nobody told people that this service had stopped payments. Then, we began paying ourselves; we have receipts. Besides, no contracts or agreements were signed; we just gave money to the commandant," she added.