04.03.2007 Ethnic Ossetian Victims of the Conflict in Former South Ossetia get Lost Property Back

Ministry of Refugees and Accomodation and APLR shall cooperate to begin the property restitution process to the ethnic Ossetians who are victims of the conflict of former South Ossetia region in early 1990-ies. On March 3, 2007, Association for Protection of Landowners’ Rights and the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia signed the Memorandum on Cooperation. Based on this Memorandum and within the scope of presidential program My Home the Ministry and APLR shall cooperate to undertake the works necessary to begin the property restitution process. The works to be carried out include cadastral works and inventory of the real property to be restituted, as well as public education campaign for the victims of the said conflict.

The Memorandum says that APLR with the support of the Ministry shall ensure completion of cadastral works and inventory of real property to be restituted throughout the country, as well as creation the real estate database, including the plan of land parcel and building, aerial image, two photos of the building, data on the former owner/user, details on existing situation and other available data.

APLR, together with the NGOs acting in North Ossetia, Russian Federation, shall carry out information campaign on the restitution initiative, as well as on the mechanisms for the restitution provided for by law; APLR shall also ensure collection of special declarations filled up by victims of the conflict and integration of these declarations into the entire database.

Noteworthy that under the funding of USAID APLR has been already implementing the project aimed at the support of restitution process to the victims of the conflict in former South Ossetia region.

Restitution process will be based on Georgian Law on Property Restitution and Compensation to the Victims of the Conflict in former South Ossetia Region, who Lost the Property on the Territory of Georgia and on the presidential decree which envisions the special measures for recording the real property of the victims of the conflict in former South Ossetia Region and who are displaced form their permanent residence in other regions of Georgia and outside the country.