Alien

Photo project of Sergey Nazarov - about people who fled from the war from South Ossetia to Georgia

In 2008, as a result of the armed conflict between South Ossetia and Georgia, thousands of Georgian families living in Ossetia were forced to leave their homes, their native land and flee to the historical homeland, to Georgia. For such families, about 40 special villages were built.

The village Tsarovani. Photo: Sergey Nazarov Project "Aliens"

Many of the same type of light houses with red roofs stretch in rows along the highway. They are difficult not to notice. As a rule, residential complexes with forced immigrants are located near Tbilisi. Thousands of families, whose life has changed dramatically in a few days of August 2008, still does not lose hope of returning to their native places.

Jumber with his wife Lelia and granddaughter Leila. Jumber lives with his wife in one of the same houses of the Saswebi village, not far from Tbilisi. Photo: Sergey Nazarov Project "Aliens"

“I served in the army from 1983 to 1985 in Samara, the country was alone. They never thought that this would happen. There is nowhere to work here. Young everyone in Tbilisi strives, the city is large, there is work. ”

Ilya lives with her mother in Tsarovyn, the largest settlement of refugees. Photo: Sergey Nazarov Project "Aliens"

“There, in the Tskhinvalsky district, we lived all our lives, we had our own land, a large house. There is no hope to return someday back: my house is destroyed, it is unlikely that something is left. If they stayed there, it is not known what would happen to us. And here they have already taken root. ”

Hatuna. He lives in Tsarovani. Photo: Sergey Nazarov Project "Aliens"

“I lived in Akhalgori (now Linkor) of the Tskhinvalsky district. She worked as a teacher of elementary grades, taught the Georgian language. Now I am working at a local school in Tsarovyn. I have a certificate by which I can cross the border and attend homeland, as I worked for a long time at school. Sometimes the locals ask there why I do not stay. And how will I stay if my family cannot go there? They do not have such a certificate. I can’t live alone without them. ”

Ilgudge, 75 years old. Born in 1941. He did not see his father, he died in the war. For 10 years now he has been living with his wife in touch in the settlement for refugees Tsarovani. Photo: Sergey Nazarov Project "Aliens"

“They lived before everything peacefully, amicably. The son in the army in Leningrad served. Our house was large and the garden. Here the houses were built for us, in this valley the earth was not at all treated. I had to start all over again. It’s hard to arrange a new life at that age. ”

Irma. In 2007, my husband died in Irma. In 2008, she was in refugee status. With tears, he recalls his native land and hopes that he will be able to return over time. Photo: Sergey Nazarov Project "Aliens"

“I would really like to return to my homeland, at least visit my husband’s grave. Now I cannot [enter South Ossetia], but I hope it will work out in the future. I really hope. Life then changed in just a few days ... "

Thomas, 58 years old. He lives in the village of Shavshwebi. Photo: Sergey Nazarov Project "Aliens"

“We are already getting used to it. Here with his wife opened his small store with sweets, brings us a small income. You can’t earn another way, and we have a very small financial assistance for refugees, 45 Lari (about 1200 rubles). ”

Khvich, 46 years old. He was forced to leave his family with. Akhalgori (now Linkor) of the Tskhinvalsky district. Photo: Sergey Nazarov Project "Aliens"

“From 1987 to 1989 I served in the army in Kazan. Then there was no such hatred. All together lived. He left then, in 2008, did not even take the documents. Everything was in a hurry. He lived there all his life, but now Ossetians are not allowed to their homeland. ”