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GORODOK MILITARY TOWN IN AKHALKALAKI

At first sight, our small city, Akhalkalaki, might look simple and ordinary, but in reality, it played an important political role for Georgia as a gatekeeper of borders with Armenia and Turkey.

The first military settlement in Akhalkalaki was created In 1910 by the Russian empire. Then it was governed by the Soviet regime. Russia kept the base after the Soviet Union’s demise in Georgian until 2007

The infrastructure was created for 15 thousand people.There were 196 buildings on an area of ​​128 hectares, including 7 headquarters and 7 military barracks, 3 dining rooms, officers’ house, hospital, 2 schools and others. It was a town within the city. That's why locals still call it a Russian world "Gorodok" - a little city

Chairs that stand in the same position as they used to stand.

Formerly, almost 2000 locals worked at a Russian base, but they lost their jobs when Russian troops left Gorodok in November 2007.After that, the appearance of "Gorodok" and the residents' lives here changed a lot.

After that, both the appearance of the settlement and the lifestyle of the inhabitants changed significantly.

The forgotten portrait of a soldier

Maybe, one of the worst feelings is when you live somewhere, but in your mind, you dream is to leave. Sometimes living conditions force us to leave for a better and safe life.Unfortunately, these feelings accompany the majority living in Gorodok.The majority of the population are Armenians, some of them are new arrivals, some Georgians, and some "witnesses of the old and new lives

old balconys

People are living here, but trying everything to leave the town. Some of them have to leave to find a job, which usually ends up with moving abroad, some of them are just tired of the monotony of life and chase after new interests …

Architectural symmetry.

GORODOK

This is grandmother Minazar, the witness of new and old days. Now there is nothing left but to mourn the past, youth and service. It is heartbreaking for her that the old glory of Gorodok is destroyed.She was 23 or 24 years old when she started her job in Gorodok’s hospital. Some 360 nurses used to work there. In 2007 she lost her favorite job like many others.

She lost her job, but the memories remain and they continue to play their role. She remembers every detail related to her job. It left an indelible mark on her memory, especially, the story associated with her first patient, whom she still remembers with sad eyes and great excitement.

The Gorodok was not aligned to me either. Of course, at a very young age I still managed to visit the town and see it. My uncle lived there and our visits, of course, were frequent.In my childhood, little things impressed me

two sisters and old building

I remember how I played in the yard with my peers and elders. We used to play for a long time, until late in the evening. In the evening, it was time to play hide-and-seek. During this time, we were not afraid to enter the demolished buildings, because they actually did not exist. My friends did not dream of restoring these buildings, because for them they still looked perfect. The movement did not stop, life did not stop either in the evening or during the day!

Lyuba always seeks to find something interesting in the ruins of old buildings.

"The bright spots of Gorodok "

Our heroes are small girls with big hearts and dreams. Usually, their days are starting and finishing in Gorodok. The girls with bright imaginations created their own small world, where they could play, have fun, and dream about a bright future. There are little girls with huge hearts and dreams

pretty Nana and her doll

Little girls, whose days are starting, ongoing, and finishing in Gorodok.With beautiful smiles and shining eyes, they give light and warmth to the dilapidated buildings that have become so close to them. Based on the stories they've heard from the elders they formed an idea of ​​their previous appearance.

Trying to fly higher

Staying in the middle of an old and destroyed building, girls are dreaming about restoration. Wouldn't that make it more interesting for them?They love Gorodok, Gorodok's buildings, and its residents. They are not dreaming of leaving Gorodok like others, they are not complaining about the present, they have a dream to see the "bright future" of the town.

It’s been more than 7 years that 10-year-old Lyuba is the resident of Gorodok.

Our Gorodok is slowly emptying, but at the same time, there is still hope - kids who love their town and sincerely dream of its bright future.

eyes

This generation will grow up to flourish in their lovely small town

The eyes following the camera from the balcony

Children of Gorodok