"I would like to once again express my condolences to the families of the deceased. A tragic incident occurred, which is very serious and unfortunate.
As for the statement regarding the building’s level of structural risk – this particular building had a third-degree hazardous condition. I made a mistake when I said it was fifth-degree. That doesn't have substantial significance,” said Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze in response to journalists’ questions about the collapse of part of a residential building’s roof near Station Square.
According to him, there were several meetings held regarding this building by the district administration.
“People were living in this specific building, and multiple meetings were held by the district administration. There was discussion about replacing the building. In 2021, we made a promise to the public that we would implement a specific program to allow us to replace structurally unsafe buildings in the city. This program exists; however, there are challenges, particularly with obtaining 100% consent from the residents,” Kaladze stated.
He also emphasized that the information being spread – that people can be relocated from dangerous buildings without 100% consent – is false, and if such a case is proven, he is ready to resign immediately.
“My request is not to spread false and misleading information. I say this with full responsibility – no such legislative changes have been made. I state this with complete accountability: if I am wrong, I will resign today. No changes have been made allowing the municipality to evict people from their homes without 100% consent. That kind of thing happened before 2012,” Kaladze said.
For context, on the evening of July 14, part of the roof of a residential building near Station Square collapsed, resulting in the deaths of two people, and another person was hospitalized.
Shortly after the incident, evacuation of residents from the building began, and they were relocated to alternative housing.
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