Gori

Interview location, date and time: Tbilisi Public School # 198 18.08.08
. Interviewer, organization: Association of Directors
Respondent: man, 41 years
Story code: 0003
In August 9, when the military unit was bombed (in 10.08) I was nearby, after this my residential building was bombed and two other buildings, after that higher levels of the building were set on fire because of bomb shrapnel. The same happened next day in 11.08. After that we left.
As a result of bombing my neighbor died. I only know his name – Badri, because he moved recently, and ripped the other woman's leg – Tsiala Khabeishvili. This fact can be confirmed by all my neighbors. My mother and father, grandmother and grandfather are in Gori.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: 16.08.08, #32 Public School, Tbilisi
Interviewer organization: vollunteer journalist
Respondent: woman,71 years
Story code:0044
The first bombing was on Friday. I was at home, working in my yard, when three shells were dropped. The first fell on a mountain in Gori, where St. George's Holly church stands. The second hit the central market and the third stroke the area near the court. We had two pregnant women in the family, so we immediately ran away. Because of the stress and nervous tension one of them is prematurely having labor. One of my close friends, Irakli Abramishvili, is wounded. I have no information on his current condition. Don't know where he is now.
Ossetians kidnapped one girl. She's been forced into their car and taken away, no one knows where. I lived near the central market and witnessed this incident: a family – father and children were sitting in the car. Ossetian soldiers stopped them. The father asked to leg go. After that the whole family was shot dead in the car. I have no idea what is happening now in my house.
I am responsible for my quotes and undersign the information I have given away.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: #89 Public School, Tbilisi
Respodent:man,44 yearsStory code:0038MMy wife called meand asked for help - she told me that Russians started bombing the village. I was in town Gori by that time, working in the shop. After my wife and children reached Gori, I moved them quickly to Tbilisi.
I can't tell how difficult it was to get my wife out of the neighbour's basement. We were hiding there for five days and five nights together with our neighbours, counting the bombs one by one.
Me and my father-in-low saw how eight dead people were buried together after the bombing in the village Karbi.
Very close to me in about 200 meters I saw Russian plane shot down by Georgians.
When I was trying to get my wife out of Gori, I witnessed the most powerful explosion. I could not see anything while driving, only exploded cars and dead people. I was trying to keep my wife from seeng this disaster.
I had to leave my wholesale store in Gori, which was my only bussiness and was left without any income. I also had to leave my old and helpless parents there.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: #89 Public School, Tbilisi
Respodent:woman,34 years
Story code:0034
I left my home on 12th of August at 1:00 AM with my wife and children. We had to run away, because Russian and Ossetian soldiers were coming our way with artillery.
On 7th of August I sheltered an Ossetian refugee from Tskhinvali with her two children. Her name is Marine. We found a shelter in the neighbor's cave when Russians were bombing Gori. In order to be safe we left Gori and went to a little village called Tortiza, but a terrible thing happened: 8 bombs were dropped on this little old village. Of these, 3 exploded, five are still to be detonated. I saw the worst thing in life that night; I saw how residents of the village collected parts of their neighbor's body and buried them in the nearby valley. My cousin's child died the same time. There are other wounded and dead people as a result of that bombing. My daughter and niece – Lana Flishvili and Izabela Berdzenishvili – fortunately survived, but they were in the place where one of the bombs exploded and they have minor injuries. Our house is damaged as well.
There are several people left in our house in Gori: my blind grandmother, Ossetian refugee with her two children and a resident of Tkviavi Ms. Roza Oqruashvili, who is wounded in the belly area. Bomb was dropped in her yard, what resulted in destruction of her house and her being wounded.

Gori

Interview plase,date:Aug 17, 2008 2:10 PM
Interviewer organization:vollunteer journalist
Respondent:women
Story code:0074
I was not going to leave my city despite the bombing. But my husband called me, who is solder and told me to leave the city immediately. I left the home and run out of house together with the children. The city was being bombed and we were running without destination. When we were near the stadium my husband called again and told that it was dangerous zone. Then I started to search for a vehicle, then my brother-in-law called me, he lives in Kaspi. He told me to get to the station; he promised to come there through the mountains. I could find a ride until village until Khidistavi. There we saw an empty car, the driver was so kind that offered us to bring to any place for free. So we came to Kaspi and settled there. Later on we heard that Russian were coming for Kaspi as well, people told us that they were kidnapping women and taking as hostages. We were very scared and left for Tbilisi. We could hardly find a shelter in Tbilisi, most of the places here were packed with IDPs. I left two houses in Gori region, I left all my life there and now I live this miserable life.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: Tbilisi, Public school #130
nterviewer organization: Ombudsman's office
Respodent:woman,43 years
Story code:0021
On August 11 at 10a.m. Russian air forces entered the central part of Gori. Greek and Georgian journalists were gathered around the monument of Stalin. We did not leave the town as we thought Russians would not bomb the city- so many journalists were there, but the bomb fell in the center of Gori. One shell fell in our yard, but did not explode. The incident caused panic and chaos, one of our neighbors - Tamaz Bolotashvili was wounded. We had a private house, which was damaged as one of the bombs exploded near it and soldiers standing nearby were also wounded. I witnessed Russian troops and military equipment entered the town. I saw this by my own eyes and left the town immediately for the safety of my children and family, but the danger was following us, surroundings of the town were also under the attack. We ran 5 kilometeres and then managed to get a car to Tbilisi. Georgian troops were not there as Russian military forces were already in Gori. Zurab Lomradze can confirm this.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: 16.08.08, #32 Public School, Tbilis
Respodent:woman,71 years
Story code:0037
The first bombing was on Friday. I was at home, working in my yard, when three shells were dropped. The first fell on a mountain in Gori, where St. George's Holly church stands. The second hit the central market and the third stroke the area near the court. We had two pregnant women in the family, so we immediately ran away. Because of the stress and nervous tension one of them is prematurely having labor. One of my close friends, Irakli Abramishvili, is wounded. I have no information on his current condition. Don't know where he is now.
Ossetians kidnapped one girl. She's been forced into their car and taken away, no one knows where. I lived near the central market and witnessed this incident: a family – father and children were sitting in the car. Ossetian soldiers stopped them. The father asked to leg go. After that the whole family was shot dead in the car. I have no idea what is happening now in my house.
I am responsible for my quotes and undersign the information I have given away.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: 15.08.08, Tbilisi
Interviewer organization: Association of School Directors
Respondent:woman, 56 years
Story code:0046
At the time of the air attack I was at home and I immediately rushed to my son's military base in Gori (so called Tank Base at Aspen Wood) but I could not make it on time – the base was bombed and my son was killed. My husband will approve all of this information. We were together at that time. His name is Mamukashvili Valiko Petres-dze. He was born in 1948. Tel. 895-13-08-15.
Also my son-in-law is wounded. He is in Tbilisi's # 8 Hospital with multiple wounds. We have doctor's records.
I was employed at Gori's military hospital as a nurse and I took care of a lot of wounded people for four days there.
The above information is provided by me and it is true and I sign.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: Public School # 22, 3:35 PM, 15 August 2008
Interviewer organization: Association of Georgian School Principals
Respondent:woman, 52 years
Story code:0045
I had to leave Gori because of the explosion in a weapon depository. I saw it with my own two eyes. It was terrible. 15 people died during this explosion, one of them was my neighbor (Giorgi Muradashvili). Incident took place on 9th of August at 8 AM. We've been taking dead bodies out of the depository till 12 in the noon.
We were in the cave. Georgian armed forces were in Gori trying to help move dead people's bodies. Ambulance was there as well. Information given by me can be confirmed by my husband, daughter and son-in-law. I don't have any video or photo materials to prove the facts, but I can say what the reason for my neighbor's death was: she was killed by the parts of a shattered bomb which got into her heart.
My mother-in-law is still in Gori

Gori

Interview place, time and date:15.08.2008
Interviewer organization: Association of Directors of Schools of Georgia
Respondent;woman 19years
Story code:0076
The first accident took place on 7th of August, when the Russian bomber aircraft fired three shells in the village of Karbi. No one was hurted. The second accident took place on 8th of August, at 7 a.m., when the bomber aircraft on the territory of Karbi fell down following the intense firing by Georgian soldiers. The part of the aircraft fell down on the settled territory and as a result, the nearby houses were demolished, one person was slightly injured and another one - severely injured, he died afterwards.
Almost all the houses in the village had the panes broken and rooves developed holes. Several hours later another bomber arrived in Karbi, which fired a shell near to the entrance bridge, likely for the purpose of exploding the bridge. A house was demolished, no one was hurted. The same aircraft fired another shell after half an hour in the middle of the village, killing 8 persons and wounding several people thereby. When we heard the noise of aircraft, the whole family used to hide in the basement. We had slept in the basement each night since the night of 7th of August. When the Russian bomber aircraft attacked Karbi, bilateral combat was ongoing between the Georgian land forces and Russian bomber aircrafts. Karbi residents can confirm the accident. On 9th of August, at 4 a.m., under the order of the head of local government, children, elderly people and woman were taken out of the village, as the Russian attack at larger scale was expected. I stayed at my relative's place for the first night and then moved to Public School No.115 of Tbilisi, and stayed there for all the following nights. Only my sister and I left the village, while my father, mother, and grandmothers left behind. On 14th of August, my father arrived in Tbilisi, who had been coming for 11 hours on foot. He was moving far from the highway, as Russian and Ossetian military tanks were patrolling on the Tbilisi-Gori highway.
At present, my mother and two grandmothers are in the occupied village of Karbi. Due to the illness, my grandmothers could not leave, and my mother stayed there to take care of them. Due to the blocking of the roads, emergency cars or any other vehicles are not let in to take them out. Until now, I managed to contact my mother on the phone, but since damaging of telephone pole by Ossetians, it is impossible to contact them. I am deeply concerned about who have stayed back in the village, as they are endangered; Russian-Ossetian-Cossack gangs are moving around in the Georgian villages. They pillage and burn down the houses, kill Georgians, take hostages. Therefore we are permanently under the shock and stress.
I confirm hereby information with a signature.

Gori

1 Interview place, time and date: Public School # 22, 3:35 PM, 15 August 2008
Interviewer organization: Association of Georgian School Principal
respodent:woman,57 years
Story code:0033
I had to leave Gori because of the explosion in a weapon depository. I saw it with my own two eyes. It was terrible. 15 people died during this explosion, one of them was my neighbor (Giorgi Muradashvili). Incident took place on 9th of August at 8 AM. We've been taking dead bodies out of the depository till 12 in the noon.
We were in the cave. Georgian armed forces were in Gori trying to help move dead people's bodies. Ambulance was there as well. Information given by me can be confirmed by my husband, daughter and son-in-law. I don't have any video or photo materials to prove the facts, but I can say what the reason for my neighbor's death was: she was killed by the parts of a shattered bomb which got into her heart.
My mother-in-law is still in Gori

Gori

Interview place, time and date: 15.08.08, #39 Public School, Tbilisi
Respodent:man,29 years
Story code:0032
I worked in Gori at the totalizator as a chief operator. I left the town in the evening of August 8th, because there was a massive bombing by Russians. I do not know in what condition is my house and have not taken anything with me. I witnessed the bombardment with my own eyes. It was carried out by the war planes. On August 8th 10:45 AM four bombs were dropped simultaneously in Gori. As a result of bombing my relative, Tsertsvadze Avtandil, died.
I have my father, Omara Atskarunashvili, left on the occupied territory.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: 15.08.2008, #39 Public School, Tbilisi
Respodent:woman,23 years
Story code:0031
We left Gori at the 12th of August, while there was bombing and shooting by Russian forces. One of the shell fell on my house and lifeguards took me from the blocks. My property was entirely destroyed and, accordingly, I couldn't manage to carry anything along with me.
I saw by myself Russian aircraft, bombing Georgian villages, which lasted for 2 days. The following people died in front of my eyes: Kekoshvili Vera, Kekoshvili Merab, Kekoshvili Dato, Lotculashvili Mimoza and two gusets from Tamarasheni. 4 years old Lika Kekoshvili was hurt and transported to the hospital.
I personally had bruises after bombing and getting among the blocks. I don't have medical acknowledgement. My brother, Datunashvili George was left at the occupied territory, who is the member of Georgian armed force.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: 15.08.08. Tbilisi
Interviewer organization: Public Defender's Office
Respodent:woman,26 years
Story code:0030
A jet flew on 8 august of 2008 from Tskhinvali or Russia at about 11-12 o'clock. It was above Gori, possibly carrying out spy flight and then it threw three bombs. There was not a victim as a result of the first bombing. Tsmindatskhali military base was bombed after several hours. 4 bombs were dropped at 11 o'clock on 9 of august on the Verkhvebi territory, where there is tank unit and there are houses, about 7 storied blocks of flats. There was emergency station on the ground floor of one of those houses. Two houses were burnt to ground, one was badly damaged. One bomb was dropped on a private house on Sukhishvili Street, where Kharguashvilis lived. Maia Vazagashvili, Dato and Zaza Razmadze and his pregnant wife died in that house. They have a child. Injured child of Maia Vazagashvili is in one of the hospitals of Tbilisi. One of the emergency doctors and Venera Maisuradze, living in this house died this time as well.
There are other dead apart from the above mentioned people, though I don't know who they were. Giorgi Mamukashvili died in tank division, he has 3-4 years old child. Soso Bzishvili was injured, who is Tbilisi hospital now.
When warplanes entered they were flying overhead too close to the ground and dropped several bombs together. Bombings started unexpectedly, we didn't even have time to go to go downstairs from the second floor.
Explosions were heard for 2-3 hours after bombing tank division. Weapon store was in fire.

Gori

Interview place, time and date: 15.08.08, #118 Public School, Tbilisi Interviewer organization: Association of School Directors
Respodent:woman,30 years
Story code:0047My mother hid me in the basement, so I could not see anything. I could only hear the noise. Later I was told that my brother was killed and my brother-in-law was wounded. This tragedy happened because of the bombing.
This information is provided by me, it is true and I sign.

Gori

Interview place, time and date:15.08.2008, Public School #118
nterviewer organization: Association of Directors of Schools of Georgia
Respodent:woman,33 years
Story code:0022
My brother is killed. My husband - Ioseb Bzishvili is wounded. My brother and husband were corporals of the "51-201" armoured division. They were bombed on August 9 th, about 11 am. I was not in Gori by that time. My brother Giorgi Mamukashvili, who was killed later, recorded the bombing on his cellphone.
We could not get the doctor's certificate in time, but everything is registered in hospital of Gori. My wounded husband is in Tbilisi now, in hospital N 8 , where we can get the certificate for him.
Our house is damaged. I don' have any more information.
have got this information and I confirm it by my signature.