Not all residents of Tskhinvali move into new houses

Despite the fact that restoration of housing facilities destroyed as a result of the war in August 2008 goes not so quickly as expected; and South Ossetia is already named a "black hole", where Russia's money infinitely disappears, today the situation is changing for the better. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent met those who already mark their housewarming and those who were less lucky.

On August 8, 2008, Tskhinvali saw fierce fights; and houses were on fire everywhere. Irina Dzasokhova, a resident of the city, had her house in Alanskaya Street burned down. Today, Irina is going to have her housewarming party and is happy as never. Her dreams have come true: now, six months later, she has a new two-storey house in the place of the old burned down one, let it be not as large as the old one.

"I'm not a builder, and it's easy to deceive me; however, employees of the SUE (State Unitary Enterprise) "Stroytechcontrol" of the RSO (Republic of South Ossetia) came here to check the process. They were quite satisfied with the builders' work. Everyday I brought lunches to the workers, and I'm infinitely grateful for their honest work. My friends ask how much money I had paid extra for such a beautiful and sound house," Ms Dzasokhova says and adds that she is sick and tired answering: she was just happy to have diligent workers.

Mikhail Dzhioev, who lives in the Pushkins Street in Tskhinvali, is indignant: "The building company, which had started my house, cleared of the rests of burned-down walls and filled in the foundation for the new house. And then it suddenly turned out that there was no money to build it."

"It turned out that the money was 'eaten away', and now the company is under the criminal case. Now, I've left all my business and visit the prosecutor's office every other day. They soothe me there saying that the embezzlers will respond for their crimes. And what's the use for me from that? My house stands unfinished. It would have been much better to give money to people; and residents would have been built their house quicker and with better quality than alien builders, who have one care - to eat away the money of poor people," says Mikhail.

A pensioner Darya Plieva, 83, found herself in a similar situation. She said that after builders from the Limited Liability Company (LLC) "Alai" had twice spoiled the roof of her house, installed improper window units and then stopped the works altogether, the members of her family wrote a letter to President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity. The complaint reached the President, and he decided to study the issue personally.

In his turn, Zurab Kabisov, Chairman of the State Committee for South Ossetia Restoration Projects, admitted that given today's employment it is impossible to supervise in detail recruitment of builders.

"We just wanted to involve everyone who was ready to work and help to build. And many people really helped us; while those who break the law and fail to pay wages are not our headache. The law enforcement bodies should address these issues," said Mr Kabisov.

He has also specified that contractors also face difficulties in doing restorations. "Under today's conditions our subcontractors are burdened with such problems like poor road: because of price growth on construction materials in Northern Ossetia, they have to bring them from Kabardino-Balkaria," explained the Chairman.

Besides, in spite of more than 100 building organizations present in South Ossetia, very few people have moved into new houses so far. The first lucky tenants appeared in the "Moskovskiy" micro-district built on the money of Moscow Mayoralty.

So far, however, quite many residents of Tskhinvali count days till the end of cold season and hope for good weather, since some families who remained without housing, have spent their second winter in tents.