Oto Kiguradze and his twin sister, Nino, can only sit and watch the news as they wonder about their family’s safety in the war zone in Georgia. The siblings and their parents came to the U.S. just a day before the fighting with Russia began.
It was merely chance — she left a day before troops invaded her homeland. Now, Nino and her family watch the news in hopes that the fighting will stop. But, regardless of how much they care, their loved ones are still 6,500 miles away.
As they sat and stared at the television screen, Georgia natives Nino Kiguradze and her twin brother, Oto, felt a legion of emotions — scared, angry, helpless.
The Kiguradzes came to the U.S. from Georgia in 2000 when their father, David, came to OSU to receive his Ph.D. in mathematics. Eight years later, the two OSU juniors, their mother and father, and
the world watch while the invasion unfolds.
Despite Russia’s vow to withdraw its forces from Georgia, implementing a French-brokered cease-fire, there was little evidence of such a pullback on Monday; some Russian units thrust even deeper into Georgian territory.
Russia’s military moves in Georgia, a former Soviet republic and a staunch U.S. ally, raised doubts as to whether Moscow intends to abide by the cease-fire agreement that ended a short but intense war over the breakaway republic of South Ossetia last week. Russian forces have since fanned throughout Georgia proper, destroying infrastructure in the Black Sea port city of Poti and coming within 30 kilometers of the capital, Tbilisi.
Nino, who spent the summer in Georgia working as an interpreter at a U.S. military base, left for the U.S. one day before the invasion began. But she said she didn’t feel lucky to be gone.
“I don’t think of myself in this situation and how lucky I am,” Nino said. “I just think of my family and how scared they are, and it almost makes it worse to be here with them there.”
Nino, Oto and their parents are the only four members from their family that live in the U.S. The rest reside in Tbilisi, hoping and praying military units don’t enter the city.
Nino and Oto said words can’t describe what they feel and fear for their family and their native country. Their television set stays on almost constantly and is always tuned to the news.
The two described their childhood in Georgia as happy and love-filled. She said it was nice to see her home country progressing positively during the summer.
“Georgia really has come so far, and it’s just sad to think now, after all the destruction, they have to rebuild everything and basically start over,” Nino said.
All they have left to do is watch, wait and hope. They also talk to members of their family daily to get updates on how they’re doing.
“My older sister is over there right now, and she says she can constantly hear bombs going off and planes overhead,” Nino said.
The Kiguradzes said they’re upset about the troops invading Georgia, but are not surprised.
“This feud between Russia and Georgia has been a long time coming, but I don’t think anyone could expect to see this happen,” Oto said.
Nino and Oto both said they appreciate the U.S. effort in trying to establish a cease fire and speaking out against the Russian troops, but they said at the end of the day, it’s not enough.
“I feel everyone is just kind of shaking their finger at Russia, but it’s not going to help because they won’t listen,” Oto said. “There needs to be serious action on someone’s part, or they won’t stop.”
Nino and Oto said they want people to know the truth about the invasion.
“Some people don’t even know Georgia is a country, so I think people just need to do their research,” Oto said.
Although the Kiguradze’s remain scared and angry, they said they will remain hopeful.
“It makes you realize just how valuable peace really is,” Nino said.
Loading ...
All Articles