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Thoughts on Defense Along the Occupation Line
Hello, my name is Otar Odiashvili, and I live in Tkviavi. I want to take a moment to tell you about the reality in which my family and I live.
Tkviavi is only 13 kilometers from Tskhinvali. According to Google, it takes just 26 minutes to drive this distance. The distance to the occupation line varies from 3 to 15 kilometers, depending on the direction. Strangely, despite this proximity, the occupation feels almost invisible in Tkviavi.
But here’s the mindset you’ll hear:
- From the older generation: "If only things were like they used to be. We moved around freely. Wasn’t it all ours? What was the point of any of this?"
- From the younger generation: "If war breaks out, we’ll have to surrender. We can’t win. They'll kill us all. What's the point in resisting?"
You can’t win an argument with either group. Their minds are set. Fortunately, not everyone thinks like that. If the occupier were anyone but Russia, many of us would resist to the end—even give our lives. But somehow, when it comes to Russia, people get nostalgic. Russia “invades,” but also reminds them of selling cabbage and apples in Gorki. Yes, they bombed us, killed our men, took our land—but still, that nostalgia lingers.
I’m an auto electrician by profession. I often travel to villages near the occupation line—Ditsi, Karbi, Nikozi, and others. While writing this, I realized I’ve not just approached the occupation line but crossed it multiple times—up to 220 meters deep—while visiting my aunt who lived there.
But who are we supposed to trust?
Of course, the Ministry of Internal Affairs units, the police patrolling the area, the GDD checkpoints scattered along the occupation line. From village to village, you’ll find small posts. They’ll ask your name, and if you're lucky, they might even ask to check your bag. That’s what’s supposed to keep us safe.
nd yet, people here mostly hope that if they're kidnapped, it’ll just be a fine. They’ll pay and be released.
Take a look at the map: Green means the area where you might be picking fruit. Red is the occupation line. Yellow marks the location of the government checkpoint—1,500 meters away from you.
The yellow checkpoint shown is the one established after the 2008 August War. But in 2013–2014, when our government learned barbed wire would be installed, they moved the checkpoint, abandoning 10–15 families to the occupation.
On the first day that checkpoint was active, the locals were warned: "There are only eight of us here. If something happens, we can’t stop it. Don’t rely on us. Just run."
Later, when a simulated war scenario was broadcast on TV, a truck that had fled from that same checkpoint came back to reassure residents: "The war didn’t start. It was just an exercise. Reconstruction is underway."
But who would you rely on if your house was in one of those red-marked squares on the map?
How Do I Prepare for Self-Defense?
I train intensively and own a weapon. Still, I cannot legally defend myself near the occupation line. The government has stripped me of the right to self-defense there. I can’t carry a pistol. Ordinary citizens aren’t allowed. As for hunting weapons—I'd sooner meet with Michel Gabriel than manage to assemble it on time.
I only blame Gintur for one thing—not having a weapon and not taking that Russian down like a pig. Not everyone agrees. They say things like: “We would’ve handed Gintur over ourselves”, “Why did he even go there? He knew it was dangerous”, “It was a provocation by the Nazis.” You’ve probably heard similar comments too.
Then one day I hear a voice: “Irakliiii, stick your finger out—don’t forget me!” I look up—and what I see stuns me.
Since I can’t count on anyone else, I’ve doubled down on protecting my family. My children and my wife have become what you might call “gunaholics.” "Why doesn’t my Glock have a safety?" they ask. They’re constantly training, learning, preparing. My wife is practically Rambo. The kids know everything except shooting—how to load an AR-15, break it down, name every part, even how to use a radio. But here too, we face obstacles. Because of absurd gun laws, my wife can’t legally defend herself with my weapon—even in our own bedroom.
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