Non-governmental organization the “Young Barristers”, with participation of human rights defenders, organized a conference on “legal issues of the Khudonhess” project”. In the process of researching the issue, the organization paid attention to social, economic and legal grounds, defending of property rights, resettlement of the population, expropriation and issues of honored compensation. The conference vastly discussed international practice concerning legal outcomes of the project and internationally recognized standards.
According to evaluations of the legal group of the organization, in case of implementation of the “Khudonhess” project, villages of Zeda Khaishi, Kveda Khaishi, Gaghma Khaishi, Zeda Tsvirmindi, Kveda Tsvirmindi, Lukha, Lakhana and Cheri will be fully resettled. A total of 769 people from 184 families will be resettled. 224 resided houses are located in the place of resettlement. In case the project is implemented, compensation must be carried out in accordance with Georgian legislation, 4/12 O.P of the World Bank and “contract of implementation” signed with the government of Georgia. Following kinds of compensations exist: Full monetary compensation, real-estate compensation and a monetary as well as compensation. The conference paid attention to the stages of financial gain of the project, construction and operation, possible risks and challenges, issues of the cultural heritage and graves placed under the process of resettlement, the meeting was concluded with a discussion.
According to the evaluation of co-founder and the head of the “Young Barristers” – Archil Kaikatsishvili, population continues discussing importance of implementation of the “Khudonhess” project. However, the society is less and more often, wrongly informed on judicial components of the project. The society only discussed the issue of construction and possesses no information on what legal results may the project bring in case of implementation. From this point of view the prepared conference was informative
The conference was attended by: “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association”, Article 42 of Constitution”, Transparency International – Georgia”, “Human Rights Protection Centre”, “Human Rights Priority”, “Union of Human Rights Defenders”, “Centre of civil initiative”, “Georgian Young Constitutionalists Association”, “Human, Law, Freedom”, “Centre of Civil Inclusion”, “Civil Defender”, “Droa”, “Young Human Rights Defenders Association”, “New Initiative”, “Caucasus environmental protection non-governmental organization”, “Military analytic research centre “Heri””, „Association of protection of landowners’ rights”, “Institute of Development of Freedom of Information”, “Unity of Judges of Georgia”, “Georgian Infrastructure Projects Initiative”, “Public Defender of Georgia”, “Georgian Bar Association”, legal group: “Kordzakhia, Zhghenti”, “Ministry of Justice of Georgia – Department of International law”, “Judicial Department of Ministry of Energy of Georgia”, “PR Consulting Group”, Experts and lawyers of field of law.
For your information: The “Young Barristers” has been conducting a research on “Legal analysis of the Khudonhess project” since January 2014. Meetings with representatives of various public departments, municipality governments and local population have been planned. A conference will be held in Mestia, where the issue and monitoring results will be discussed. The organization will present a conclusion and a recommendation package by April 2014.
