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
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.
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
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.
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!
"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
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.
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.
Children of Gorodok