Java Municipality
Java: the upper Didi Liakhvi gorge in the Greater Caucasus, Roki Tunnel and mountain villages — history and status of an occupied area.
Java Municipality — overview
MunicipalityHistory
Java Municipality is a de jure municipality of Georgia, attributed to the Shida Kartli region, covering the mountainous upper valleys of the Didi (Great) Liakhvi and neighbouring rivers on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Its centre is the settlement of Java, at about 1,040 m above sea level in the Didi Liakhvi gorge. The municipality covers about 1,448 km². Under the Law of Georgia on Occupied Territories, it is part of the occupied Tskhinvali region and has not been under the control of the Georgian government since 1992.
The high valleys of Java form a landscape of forested gorges, alpine meadows and small mountain villages. In the north, near Zemo Roka, lies the Roki Tunnel, opened in 1984: about 3,730 m long and at about 2,000 m above sea level, it is the only road link through the Caucasus between this area and North Ossetia (Russia).
The area was heavily affected by the 1991 Racha earthquake: its strong aftershock on 15 June 1991 caused deaths and destroyed the village of Khakhet. In the 1990s and especially during and after the war of August 2008, the area came under the control of Russian-backed forces, and Russian military infrastructure has been built there.
The international community, including the EU and the UN General Assembly, supports Georgia’s territorial integrity and the right of displaced persons to return to the Tskhinvali region.
Visiting information: under Georgian law, foreign nationals may enter the Tskhinvali region only from the direction of Gori Municipality, and crossings are effectively closed; many governments advise against all travel to the region. This page presents the geography and history of Java for reference.
FAQ
1) Where is Java Municipality located?
In the upper Didi Liakhvi valley on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, de jure in Shida Kartli.
2) What is the status of the territory?
Under Georgian law it is part of the occupied Tskhinvali region, outside Georgian government control since 1992.
3) What is the centre?
The settlement of Java, at about 1,040 m in the Didi Liakhvi gorge.
4) How large is the municipality?
About 1,448 km².
5) What is the Roki Tunnel?
A road tunnel opened in 1984, about 3,730 m long, linking the area with North Ossetia.
6) What happened in 1991?
A strong aftershock of the Racha earthquake on 15 June 1991 destroyed the village of Khakhet.
7) What happened in 2008?
During and after the August 2008 war the area remained under the control of Russian-backed forces.
8) What is the landscape like?
Forested gorges, alpine meadows and small mountain villages.
9) Can Java be visited?
Crossings are effectively closed, and many governments advise against all travel to the region.
10) What is the regional context?
Java is part of the Tskhinvali region, attributed de jure to Shida Kartli.