Patara Garejvari

Interview place, date:Aug 22, 2008 7:04 PM
Interviewer organization: vollunteer journalist
Respondent:woman, 18 years
Story code:0090
I am Nino Chalauri, 18 years old. Live in village Patara Garejvari, Gori region, and study in Tbilisi in Technical University. I want to share my story with you. On August 8, 2008, when the war started up, I and my family did not leave our house. We were standing the tension and bombardment for five days. At nights we were hiding in the basement. On August 12, 2008, on the cease-fire day proclaimed by Medvedev, the whole village was celebrating. I was thanking the God for our survival. However, for me the war started on August 13.
On August 13, 2008, at 3 p.m., I and my brother were in and our mother was cooking a dinner. Suddenly, the car stopped near our house and seven armed men get out of it. They started shouting "we will shoot you up". We stood motionless and rose up our hands, but our dog rush out and started barking at them. The dog was shot down. One of them aimed the gun at me and ordered to show everything around to them. They took me to the second floor, started beating me down and yelling at me. They took two mobile phones, DVD, computer, video, golden stuff we had, money (250 Gel). They were breaking down everything they could not take with them, glasses of doors and windows, and yelling at me and abasing me all the time, calling me "bitch, Georgian swine". They beat my mother and brother (father was not in) and wanted to carry me off as well. They were repeating "such a good girl, get into the car". I do not know how I got such strength, but I pulled out a knife from my pocket, placed it against my throat and tried to threaten them with suicide. However, they took away the knife and beat me again, punching and kicking me with gun handles. Later on, they left the room. I thought they left for good and all. I opened the door and casted a glance outside, they threw out the knife towards me immediately. God saved me that time, the knife got stick into the door. They got up to the second floor once more and when they noticed mine crossing myself, they got very angry. They broke out into abuse and beat me again. The dragged me down by the hair and were pushing me to follow them. My mother was begging them not carrying me off. By the grace of God, I am alive and with my family today, although as refugee.
Later they washed up, I do not know why, sang Russian song and left.
I am in Tbilisi now, with my family, in the state school # 170. Right after our arrival people started taking care of us. The doctor checked me up and prescribed some medicines. I am visited by the psychologist and priest as well.
The pupils are also visiting us and cheering us up. The signs of gun handles are still visible at me and my brother. I know those signs will disappear soon, but fear, feebleness and humiliation are those feelings left after August 13, and they still bother me. I am taking some medicines, and they take care of me, but those memories are like heavy burden over my shoulder. Additional burden is uncertain life of a refugee.
Via this letter, I what to show everybody the face of the brutal conquers we deal nowadays. I know, for sure, that I am not going back to my village. I do not want to live in that house anymore, in the house I was beaten so heavily, even if I am in position to be somewhere else. My brother is more positive, but I cannot forget that horror. I am sure if I am back, everything around will aggravate my bad memories.
I would like to meet either ombudsman or state representative. I know there are a lot of indigent people and they all need support and assistance. I need it as well. The God saved me and now I need support from the people.