The project № FR-23-13630 titled “The Depopulation of the Rural Settlements in Racha: Spatio-Temporal changes and Modern Problems” is being conducted by the Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University with cooperation of the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia. The research is headed by Prof.Dr. Nana Nadareishvili, senior researcher and academic doctor of Geography at the Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography, and the coordinator of the project is Sofiko Dzhvarsheishvili, a ascientific researcher at the same institute.

From 12.08.2024 to 18.08.2024, in accordance with the work plan, an expedition took place in the Racha region, namely In Oni and the villages of Oni municipality, the purpose of which was to determine the causes behind the critical population decline in Racha.

The mentioned expedition included participation from scientific staff of the Vakhushti Bagrationi Instutute of Geography: Sofiko Dzhvarsheishvili, Mzia Tutberidze, Nana Kvirvkelia, Givi Tavadze, Eleonora Tchania. The foreigner consultant of the project, Prof. Dr. Magdalena Stuelb from the Koblenz (Germany) University of Applied Sciences, also took part in this expedition.

On 12.08.2024 the expedition participants were welcomed by Parmen Margvelidze, the State Representative of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti. The meeting was also attended by Nana Sokhadze, Director of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Self-Government Resource Center, a non-governmental organization.

At the same day, a working meeting was held with Deputy Mayors of the Oni Municipality, Giorgi Nodarishvili and Levan Sharazadishvili, as well as the Chairman of the Oni Municipality Council, Bachana Markoishvili.

In order to study the local factors determining the depopulation of Oni municipality, the scientific team, with the support of local government representatives, conducted a survey of the permanent and seasonal population of the villages of Oni municipality.

On 16.08.2024 the scientific research team presented the early findings of the research to representatives of the Oni municipality local government.

It is worth mentioning that the research of the depopulation of Racha rural settlements still continues. In the coming year a sociological survey of Ambrolauri municipality residents and an analysis of the socio-economic condition of this municipality are planned.