World Refugee Day in Pankisi Valley

2005-07-05

On June 20, 2005, UNAG in cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has commemorated the World Refugee Day in Georgia's Pankisi gorge, by the series of events, aimed at focusing the attention at the plight and lives of Chechen refugees who arrived to the country fleeing the violent conflict in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Chechnya.</p> <p>The main commemorative events took place in a village of Duisi, in Duisi Theatron - an outdoor amphitheatre. Orgnizers have invited the artists from the Griboedov Theatre of Tbilisi to entertain the attending refugees and especially children with various artistic sketches.</p> <p>Refugee children, as well as their local friends from the Kistine community (Georgian citizens of Chechen descent)have also performed. They have received commemorative awards.</p> <p>The event has achieved its aim of focusing the media attention on problems and lives of Chechen refugees in Georgia. It was widely covered by the media, including the Georgian dailies "24 Hours” and "Georgia Today,” as well as Russian "Komsomolskaya Pravda,” and the Magazine "Emigrants".</p> <p>Georgia's public broadcasting has participated in coverage of the World Refugee day by broadcasting the UNHCR documentary "Global Overview 2005” dubbed in Georgian language, which covers the lives of refugees and the refugee assistance programs worldwide.</p> <p>Celebration of the World Refugee Day on 20 June 2003 has been supported by the UNHCR BO Tbilisi, UNA-Georgia, Norwegian Refugee Council, Georgian Ministry for Refugees and Accommodation, GCRT and Technical Assistance Georgia and NGO "Kakheti.”</p> <p>Related article:</p> <p><a href="http://una.ge/eng/artdetail.php?id=75&amp;group=articles">"Georgia Today": World Refugee Day in Pankisi-Longing for Chechen Sunrise and Exceptional Courage</a>