Toma Chagelshvili

Life in 1990s Georgia was wild. After the country’s first president was overthrown by a military-backed gang, a familiar face began rising to power. Facing betrayal, political intrigue, and even attempts on his life, Eduard Shevardnadze had to play his cards carefully to stay in control and hold on to the presidency.

The villagers of Churvaleti knew since the end of the Georgian war in 2008 that they were living on a border. Life was simple, but not far from normal. Until a while ago, when Russian patrols started drawing the borderline and putting up barbed wire fences. In Churvaleti, the barbed wire fence goes right through the village. Families and communities got divided. Every other hour border patrols pass by and put anyone in captivity who come close to the fence. In spite of this menace, the villagers find ways to stay in touch with their relatives and friends across the line. Life goes on, but will it ever be the same again?