TBILISI, May 31 (RIA Novosti) - Georgian electricity provider Telasi has cut off electricity supplies to buildings housing refugees in the country's capital, Tbilisi, over an unpaid debt of the refugee ministry, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Over 40 houses in districts of Tbilisi currently home to refugees were cut off Tuesday after the Ministry of Refugees failed to repay its debt of 430,000 lari ($240,000) on time.
"The deadline for the payment was May 25," said Telasi's Valery Pantsulaya. "We waited for another five days but no money arrived in our account so we made this decision."
Pantsulaya said the Ministry of Refugees had promised to transfer some of the money Wednesday but none had yet arrived. He also said the company had only reconnected the Abkhazia Hotel because the funeral of a refugee was being held inside the building.
He said the company understood how complicated the social situation was.
"But we have signed a memorandum with the ministry, which stipulates that it will pay 430,000 lari every month and on time," he said, adding that refugees in Tbilisi used up to 1 million lari worth of electricity every month.
Under an agreement, the ministry covers the 430,000 lari, and refugees have to pay the rest themselves.
On June 1, electricity tariffs in Georgia will increase by 13% in Tbilisi and 45% in the provinces. The opposition has said it will bring people to the streets to protest against the decision.
