Real estate transactions of Georgian refugees in Abkhazia to be considered by the PACE

Georgiy Kheviashvili, Minister for Refugees' Matters and Accommodation of Georgia, held a meeting on September 16 with Kastrio Islami, Rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

During the meeting, special attention was given to the facts of illegal sale and seizure of the real estate left by Georgian refugees in the territory of Abkhazia.

After the meeting the Minister has stated that in the near future the facts of capture and commercial transactions with the real estate of Georgian refugees will be considered at the PACE session, the IA "Medianews" reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has already informed that some time ago the PACE delegation had visited Abkhazia. The representatives of the Assembly were interested in the prospects of Georgian-Abkhazian settlement, issues of Georgian refugees' comeback and economic situation in Abkhazia.

In the opinion of Abkhazian Speaker N. Ashuba, while raising the problems of Georgian refugees, it is unfair to disregard representatives of other ethnic groups who had suffered during the war.

The Speaker has reminded that Abkhazia had never declared that it would not let the refugees back. He gave an example of the Galskiy District, where over 60,000 Georgian refugees had returned.

Georgia has rejected the Abkhazia's proposal to register the returned refugees together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In Mr Asuba's opinion, the PACE could assist in this issue.