Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze offered his condolences to the families of two people killed in the partial collapse of a dilapidated building on Tevdore Mghvdeli Street near Station Square while defending the city’s building replacement program and rejecting criticism of the municipality’s response.

Speaking to the media about the tragic incident, Kaladze acknowledged mistakes in his initial statements about the building’s safety classification while emphasising that the city has been operating a replacement program for dangerous buildings since 2021.

“I want to once again express my condolences to the families of the deceased. An unfortunate incident occurred and two people perished, which is very grave,” Kaladze said.

The mayor admitted to an error in his previous statements about the building’s safety classification.

“My mistake was that yesterday I said it was the fifth category. The mentioned building has been assigned a third-degree emergency category. However, this has no essential significance, because the fact is that people lived in the specific building despite multiple meetings held by the district administration and discussions about replacing the building,” the Mayor said.

Kaladze emphasised that the city has maintained a replacement program since 2021, though he acknowledged challenges in implementation.

“In 2021, we gave society a promise that we would establish a specific program through which we could replace emergency buildings in the city. This program works; although challenges exist. There are cases when achieving 100% consent from the population cannot be accomplished for various reasons,” Kaladze added.

The mayor explained that some residents have unrealistic expectations about the replacement program.

“There are cases where people, for example, live in 50 square meters and want to receive more space. This is unimaginable. The municipality does not have this possibility. We offer these families rental provision, we temporarily relocate them and return them to newly built residential buildings,” Kaladze explained.

Addressing false claims about the building’s condition, Kaladze stated: “The building was classified as an emergency structure, and, believe it or not, the residents had not even submitted an application. Yesterday, I was asked whether this building was painted two years ago—that is a lie. In 2017, during David Narmania’s tenure as mayor, reinforcement work was carried out on this building. However, today, it is designated as an emergency. I want to emphasise again: our program is not merely for reinforcement but for complete replacement.”

The mayor denied claims that recent legislative changes allow the municipality to proceed with building replacements without full resident consent.

“My request is to refrain from spreading incorrect, false, and misleading information. I, Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of the city, solemnly state that no such legislative changes have been implemented. If I am proven wrong, I pledge to resign from my position today,” the Mayor stated.

Kaladze emphasised that the municipality cannot forcibly relocate residents without unanimous consent.

“No legislative changes have been implemented and without 100% consent, the municipality has no right to remove people. Similar things happened before 2012; remember the example of Tabukashvili Street, when special forces removed people,” Kaladze said.

The mayor defended his administration’s approach to the building replacement program, contrasting it with past practices.

“Neither I nor my colleagues are the people who will remove residents of emergency buildings from private property by force. We are building a modern state where we tell people that we allow them to use the mentioned program and instead of those emergency, demolished houses you will receive new apartments,” the Mayor explained.

Regarding the specific building that collapsed, Kaladze revealed that only two residents had agreed to participate in the replacement program.

“We offered these residents the opportunity to participate in the replacement program, and this is well-documented. I can provide proof of this as well. We informed them that the city hall is prepared for their relocation, demolition, and the construction of new housing for the building in question. All of this has been documented and signed by the residents. If I am not mistaken, only two individuals have given their consent to relocate with the provision of rental assistance, which is being provided to them,” Kaladze told the media.

Yesterday, part of a residential building near the Station Square in Tbilisi collapsed. According to the latest reports, two people lost their lives in the incident, and one injured individual is currently hospitalised.