Boarded shutters | Gorelovka – Dukhobors in Javakheti

The Samtskhe-Javakheti region is considered a major cultural center of the Dukhobors, although today there are only a few families left.  During a Go Group expedition, journalists got acquainted with their way of life.

About 2 thousand Dukhobors lived in the village of Gorelovka, Ninotsminda District.  Today there are only 130 people.  There are several reasons for this reduction, including: the collapse of the Soviet Union, the abolition of collective farms and other social problems.

Most of the Dukhobors gradually left the Javakheti villages in the 1980s, and the further exodus continued in 1997 and 2008.

The first stream of Dukhobors leaving Georgia was caused by the slogan ‘Georgia for Georgians.’ The abolition of collective farms and social problems caused a second and third wave of migration.

Today in these parts there are many abandoned houses.  Their old masters have died, and their children moved to Russia and Ukraine.  The abandoned houses are today’s “portrait” of Gorelovka.  Today, only 30 young people live in the village;  according to one of our respondents, the majority of young people are men, and this is one of the reasons that new families are not being created.

Photographs: Diana Petriashvili