2020-03-05
✅ Amendments are made to the Law of Georgia on Development of High Terrain Regions with an aim of improving economic conditions and eradication of imbalance in high terrain municipalities for the residents of villages situated along the division line by the occupation territories of Georgia.
✅ 58 more villages will acquire a status of Highlander Communities, i.e. over 25 000 people will be able to benefit from Highlander Community Status and related incentives.
✅ Without a need to meet other criteria, status will be granted to 19 villages located at the height of or over 800 meters above the sea level in the vicinity of a division line by the occupied territories and 39 settlements that belong to municipalities with 80 or more percent of settlements being classified as Highlander Communities (Tianeti, Dmanisi, Aspindza and Dusheti). Administrative centers of such municipalities will be granted this status, provided their administrative centers are located at 1000 meters or higher above the sea level.
✅ Criteria are also being adjusted for granting a status to individuals living permanently in settlements at 2000 meters or higher above the sea level. In line with the proposed amendments to the law, actual dwelling in such settlements for 6 instead of 9 months will be sufficient to become eligible for this status.
✅ Currently, 1737 settlements of the country are classified as such and bear the status of highlanders and almost 250 000 individuals benefit of social and tax incentives as they are permanent residents of highlands and currently have a status of highlanders.