MEDIA: Five families in Tbilisi could lose their property due to  construction of Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center

ArmInfo. Construction of the "Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center" is planned in the Abanotubani district of the Georgian capital, which will result in the  expropriation of property from five families, despite their  resistance. The decision was made by Georgian Economy Minister Mariam  Kvrivishvili, according to the Georgian service of Radio Liberty.

According to the Law "On the Procedure for Expropriation of Property  in Cases of Public Interest Necessity," expropriation means the  seizure of property in accordance with Article 19 of the Constitution  of Georgia and this law, with prior, full, and fair compensation.  "The project is a public utility, and since the company and the  property owners were unable to reach an agreement on a voluntary  sale, the expropriation of the property is necessary," the order,  originally reported by BM.ge, states.

The center will be named after former Azerbaijani President Heydar  Aliyev. He led the country until his death in 2003, when his son,  Ilham Aliyev, assumed the position. Ilham Aliyev was in Georgia on  April 6, just three days after the Minister of Economy issued the  order. He visited Abanotubani and laid a wreath at his father's  monument.

Originally, construction was planned for 25 Gorgasali Street. A  groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 27, 2023. However, during  the planning of the building's site, it was discovered that there  were insufficient plots of land for the construction, and it was  decided to use two more residential plots, one of which was purchased  by the Georgian side. Twenty-four people own apartments in the  courtyard. Of these, 13 agreed to the state's proposed buyout terms,  but five people, who own a total of 11 properties (residential  apartments and attics), disagree.

Kvrivishvili noted in his order that "the project is an object  necessary for public needs," and therefore "there is a need to seize  the property through expropriation."

The owners have one month to challenge Minister Kvrivishvili's  decision in court.