On January 16th, 2022, Zurab Chichoshvili jumped out of the window of his room at the former Kartli sanatorium. He died from his injuries. Zurab was one of 200 thousand refugees who were forced to leave their homes during the war in Abkhazia in 1992-93.

The collapse of the USSR led to wars within the former republics. Abkhazia, which was part of the Georgian SSR, declared its independence. This was the beginning of a bloody war between Abkhazia and Georgia. Thousands of ethnic Georgians left their homes in a hurry, often without even having time to take their documents with them. They were resettled in former Soviet sanatoriums throughout Georgia, which were massively built on the territory of the former republic during the reign of Joseph Stalin. Then 186 sanatoriums were built, the most popular of them were located in the regions adjacent to the Black Sea. Sanatoriums, designed to glorify the idea of the prosperity of socialism, after the collapse of the Union turned out to be of no use to anyone, they were mothballed. 

Hoping for the return of the region, the Georgian government was in no hurry to resettle the refugees. 30 years have passed and many of the refugees continue to live in already dilapidated sanatoriums. Many of them are over 60 years old. Most of all they want to return to their homes in Abkhazia. And they are afraid not to have time to do it.

Yuri Chakvetadze, who lives in the Sinatle sanatorium, is now 83 years old. He got an apartment in Kutaisi, but he can’t move there because he can’t stand another change of housing. The only thing he dreams about is going to the grave of his son, who died during the war and was buried near his house in Sukhumi.

Oscar with a captured rifle in his hands in his kitchen in the former sanatorium ”Aia”. When the war began, Oskar persuaded his family to leave Gagra, and he himself remained to guard the house. He did not want to fight and hoped that the conflict would end quickly and everything would return to normal. When his sister was killed, he took a gun. In Sukhumi, his squad received a tip on a war criminal, when they entered his house, they found a weapons depot. Oscar took one of the guns as a trophy. Later he was shot in the head and taken to Georgia for treatment. He was helped to escape and leave the war zone by his friend, the Abkhaz.
Oscar with a captured rifle in his hands in his kitchen in the former sanatorium ”Aia”. When the war began, Oskar persuaded his family to leave Gagra, and he himself remained to guard the house. He did not want to fight and hoped that the conflict would end quickly and everything would return to normal. When his sister was killed, he took a gun. In Sukhumi, his squad received a tip on a war criminal, when they entered his house, they found a weapons depot. Oscar took one of the guns as a trophy. Later he was shot in the head and taken to Georgia for treatment. He was helped to escape and leave the war zone by his friend, the Abkhaz.
The hall of the former sanatorium «Sakartvelo». When Mikhail Saakashvili came to power in Georgia in 2004, the country’s tourism reform began - former resort towns began to be rebuilt or reconstructed. Sakartvelo Sanatorium, one of the largest in Tskaltubo, where about 1,000 refugees lived, was resettled and bought by a private person. Everything that the refugees did not take with them is thrown out of the windows of the sanatorium to clear the space and prepare the building for restoration.
The hall of the former sanatorium «Sakartvelo». When Mikhail Saakashvili came to power in Georgia in 2004, the country’s tourism reform began - former resort towns began to be rebuilt or reconstructed. Sakartvelo Sanatorium, one of the largest in Tskaltubo, where about 1,000 refugees lived, was resettled and bought by a private person. Everything that the refugees did not take with them is thrown out of the windows of the sanatorium to clear the space and prepare the building for restoration.
A horse grazing in the central park of Tskaltubo. The city of Tskaltubo is one of the main health resorts of the USSR. In the center of the city there is a huge park, around which 19 massive sanatoriums and 9 bathroom complexes were built for recreation and treatment of labor strikers and the government of the USSR. Tskaltubo was not only a popular, but also a very elite resort. Joseph Stalin came here to treat his legs. A special railway «Moscow-Tskaltubo» was built for him.
A horse grazing in the central park of Tskaltubo. The city of Tskaltubo is one of the main health resorts of the USSR. In the center of the city there is a huge park, around which 19 massive sanatoriums and 9 bathroom complexes were built for recreation and treatment of labor strikers and the government of the USSR. Tskaltubo was not only a popular, but also a very elite resort. Joseph Stalin came here to treat his legs. A special railway «Moscow-Tskaltubo» was built for him.
Yuri Chakvetadze stands in the lobby of the former sanatorium "Sinatle".Yuri is now 83 years old, 53 of them he has lived in Abkhazia. After his eldest son died, he tried to save his wife and younger son. They were able to escape to Georgia on a ship of the Ukrainian fleet, which helped to take out refugees. They were distributed to the city of Tskaltubo, to the sanatorium "Sinatle". Yuri does not like to think about his home, because his heart immediately hurts.
Yuri Chakvetadze stands in the lobby of the former sanatorium "Sinatle".Yuri is now 83 years old, 53 of them he has lived in Abkhazia. After his eldest son died, he tried to save his wife and younger son. They were able to escape to Georgia on a ship of the Ukrainian fleet, which helped to take out refugees. They were distributed to the city of Tskaltubo, to the sanatorium "Sinatle". Yuri does not like to think about his home, because his heart immediately hurts.
«Altar of the Dead» in the room of Yuri Chakvetadze, Tskaltubo, Georgia. January 22, 2023.There are two altars in Yuri’s room: the altar of the living and the altar of the dead. On the altar of the dead, Yuri has photographs of his wife, eldest son, parents, Joseph Stalin, Brezhnev, Beria, Shevardnadze and icons. Yuri is nostalgic for the Soviet Union, he says that they lived all together then, but once everything broke up ”brothers became enemies”.
«Altar of the Dead» in the room of Yuri Chakvetadze, Tskaltubo, Georgia. January 22, 2023.There are two altars in Yuri’s room: the altar of the living and the altar of the dead. On the altar of the dead, Yuri has photographs of his wife, eldest son, parents, Joseph Stalin, Brezhnev, Beria, Shevardnadze and icons. Yuri is nostalgic for the Soviet Union, he says that they lived all together then, but once everything broke up ”brothers became enemies”.
The woman in an abandoned sanatorium "Sakartvelo". After the war in Abkhazia, thousands of Georgians were forced to leave their homes. In Georgia, they were settled in former Soviet sanatoriums. Over time, everyone got new apartments, but some cannot leave the sanatoriums that have become their own. Every day a woman comes to an abandoned sanatorium where she has lived for 30 years to feed the dogs and cats left there.
The woman in an abandoned sanatorium "Sakartvelo". After the war in Abkhazia, thousands of Georgians were forced to leave their homes. In Georgia, they were settled in former Soviet sanatoriums. Over time, everyone got new apartments, but some cannot leave the sanatoriums that have become their own. Every day a woman comes to an abandoned sanatorium where she has lived for 30 years to feed the dogs and cats left there.
The windows of the sanatorium "Samgurali". Sanatoriums are not adapted for permanent accommodation. There is no hot water and heating. To warm up in winter and cook food, refugees installed stoves on the balconies that they converted into the kitchen. The balconies were open. To insulate them, people built a wall and a window from materials that were at hand.
The windows of the sanatorium "Samgurali". Sanatoriums are not adapted for permanent accommodation. There is no hot water and heating. To warm up in winter and cook food, refugees installed stoves on the balconies that they converted into the kitchen. The balconies were open. To insulate them, people built a wall and a window from materials that were at hand.
Liana stands in the Hall of the former AIA sanatorium. After the war, Liana was able to travel to Abkhazia one more time. Her Abkhaz friend helped her with this. he drove her past her house, in which other people already lived. she tries not to watch footage from Abkhazia, because every time her heart feels bad.
Liana stands in the Hall of the former AIA sanatorium. After the war, Liana was able to travel to Abkhazia one more time. Her Abkhaz friend helped her with this. he drove her past her house, in which other people already lived. she tries not to watch footage from Abkhazia, because every time her heart feels bad.
Tsitsino Kvirtia stands near her improvised lemon garden in the hall of the former club at the Imereti Sanatorium. When Tsitsino was forced to flee the city of Gagra in Abkhazia, she was 40 years old. She had a two-storey large house by the sea, in which they lived with her extended family. When her brother was captured, they were offered a ransom. They gave everything they had in their house. When the brother came back they immediately fled with the whole family. They were put in one room of the sanatorium. Tsitsino’s husband died, the children left. She lives alone. She still hears the smell of the sea everywhere, which she misses so much.
Tsitsino Kvirtia stands near her improvised lemon garden in the hall of the former club at the Imereti Sanatorium. When Tsitsino was forced to flee the city of Gagra in Abkhazia, she was 40 years old. She had a two-storey large house by the sea, in which they lived with her extended family. When her brother was captured, they were offered a ransom. They gave everything they had in their house. When the brother came back they immediately fled with the whole family. They were put in one room of the sanatorium. Tsitsino’s husband died, the children left. She lives alone. She still hears the smell of the sea everywhere, which she misses so much.