Tako Robakidze

Documentary Photographer

Creeping Borders

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Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Biography: Tako Robakidze is a documentary photographer based in Tbilisi, Georgia. In 2008 she got Bachelor’s degree in Law from Tbilisi State University. Parallel to the university education, she was enrolled in photography school... MORE

Galina Kelekhsaeva, ethnically ... IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2016.

Galina Kelekhsaeva, ethnically Ossetian, and her husband. Before the war in 2008 they lived in village Kemerti (which is on the occupied territory). Now, they live in an IDP settlement in the village Shavshvebi. There are many ethnically Georgian-Ossetian families in Georgia. Shavshvebi IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2016.

Nino prevents her boy from gett... Village Nikozi, Georgia. 2017.

Nino prevents her boy from getting closer to the ruined wall. Her house was bombed during the Russian-Georgian War in 2008. Village Nikozi, Georgia. 2017.

Locals having supper. Village Zardiaantkari. Georgia. 2017

Locals going back from work. Village Ergneti. Georgia. 2017

More than 300,000 Georgians are... IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2016.

More than 300,000 Georgians are displaced. They have moved around the country in IDP settlements. Shavshvebi IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2016.

Zurab plays with his 3-year old...age Tamarasheni, Georgia. 2017.

Zurab plays with his 3-year old son. Without land work, he will not be able to support his family. He has no hope for anyone’s help. Village Tamarasheni, Georgia. 2017.

Mari from Achabeti village. Her... IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2017.

Mari from Achabeti village. Her family had to flee their homeland, and are now living at the Karaleti IDP Settlement. Karaleti IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2017.

Marina was a school teacher in ... IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2017.

Marina was a school teacher in the village Kemerti, which is now an occupied territory. After war in 2008, she and her family settled in an IDP settlement in the village Shavshvebi. Even though people who lived in Tskhinvali region were in constant war for 20 years, and shootings were part of their everyday life, they still never imagined to leave their houses. Shavshvebi IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2017.

Locals fear to let children out...e Zardiaantkari, Georgia. 2017.

Locals fear to let children out alone as it gets dark. Village Zardiaantkari, Georgia. 2017.

Barbed wire and sign saying: &a...Village Bobnevi, Georgia. 2017.

Barbed wire and sign saying: “State Border! Passage forbidden!“ Russian troops, systematically cross the occupational line, kidnap locals, take photos of them on the occupied side, as if they have crossed the fence illegally. Village Bobnevi, Georgia. 2017.

Mask of the house made by a ref... IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2017.

Mask of the house made by a refugee from Tskhinvali region. People living in Tskhinvali region used to have 2 floor houses with eight or nine rooms, with gardens and yards. Most of the refugees didn’t bring any photos of their old houses, because none of them thought they would not go back. Khurvaleti IDP Settlement, Georgia. 2017.

Nino showing her 2 floor house,...e Zardiaantkari, Georgia. 2017.

Nino showing her 2 floor house, which burnt down during the 2008 Russian- Georgian war. When Russian soldiers entered the village, Nana’s husband was at home. Later, he watched their house burn from nearby. After the war they found a temporary shelter in a kindergarten building and stayed there for 5 years, until it was safe to return to the village and settle on the ground floor (around 1.5 square meters) arranged by The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Due to unbearable conditions, the family can’t afford reparation of the leaking roof, which is now covered with polyethylene. Village Zardiaantkari, Georgia. 2017.

Locals celebrate the day of the...lage Berushieti. Georgia. 2017.

Locals celebrate the day of the Archangel. Georgians and Ossetians in the region had good relationships, celebrating holidays together and having mixed families.Village Berushieti. Georgia. 2017.

Nino prepares supper for hersel...rgia. Village Khurvaleti. 2017.

Nino prepares supper for herself and two brothers. They did not want to leave their parents house and stayed in the village. Nino teaches English at school, and her brothers look after the land and livestock. Georgia. Village Khurvaleti. 2017.

Russian military base over the ...t. Village Arbo, Georgia. 2017.

Russian military base over the fence. Locals find themselves deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms, including free movement. Village Arbo, Georgia. 2017.