Blood Feuds Exist in Georgia Too — Not Just Albania

Last updated: 5 October 2026

Photo: opposition - jb

When people hear the words "blood feud," they usually think of Albania and the Kanun. However, Georgia blood feuds are a real phenomenon that few people outside the Caucasus know about. Georgia has its own tradition of vendetta, known locally as "siskhlis agheba" (blood taking). This tradition is strongest in the mountainous highland regions, especially Svaneti, Khevsureti, and parts of Adjara. While less widespread and less codified than the Albanian Kanun, these feuds can last for generations and cause serious harm.[1]

This matters for asylum claims because courts in the UK and US may not know about Georgia blood feuds. Judges are familiar with Albanian blood feuds because there is a large body of case law. However, Georgian feuds are poorly documented in English-language sources. As a result, claimants face an uphill battle to prove that the threat is real. This article explains the history, how feuds work, and why they are relevant to human rights and asylum cases.

Historical Background of Georgia Blood Feuds

The blood feud tradition in Georgia goes back centuries. It is rooted in the customary law of the highland communities. In the mountainous regions of the Caucasus, communities were historically isolated. Central government authority was weak or absent. People developed their own systems of justice. In Svaneti, the community had its own unwritten code of conduct. This code included rules about honour, property, and how to resolve disputes. When someone was killed or seriously harmed, the victim's family had the right — and the duty — to seek revenge.[2]

The Svan people, who live in the Upper Svaneti and Lower Svaneti regions of western Georgia, have the most documented history of blood feuds. Ethnographers who studied Svaneti in the 19th and early 20th centuries recorded detailed accounts of vendetta killings. The tradition was also present in Khevsureti (a highland region in eastern Georgia) and in parts of Tusheti and Pshavi. Furthermore, some elements of honour-based retribution exist in parts of Adjara, the mountainous region in southwestern Georgia near the Turkish border.

During the Soviet period, the central government suppressed many traditional practices. Blood feuds became less common because the Soviet state controlled local communities tightly. However, they did not disappear completely. After Georgia's independence in 1991, and especially during the civil unrest and economic collapse of the 1990s, some traditional practices resurfaced. In areas where state authority was weak, customary justice filled the gap.

How Georgia Blood Feuds Work

Georgian blood feuds follow a pattern similar to other vendetta traditions in the Caucasus and the Mediterranean. They are not random violence. They follow rules that the community understands, even if those rules are not written down.

What Triggers a Blood Feud

A blood feud is most commonly triggered by murder. If someone kills a member of another family, the victim's family has the right to seek revenge by killing a male member of the offender's family. However, feuds can also start from other serious offences. These include serious physical assault, theft of livestock (historically very important in mountain communities), kidnapping or harm to a woman, and serious insults to family honour. In Svaneti, even a dispute over land or water rights could escalate into a feud if the insult was considered serious enough.[3]

How the Feud Continues

Once a blood feud begins, it is a matter of family obligation. The duty to avenge falls on the male relatives of the victim, typically sons or brothers. If the original offender is not available, another male family member may be targeted instead. This is the most dangerous aspect of blood feuds: they do not stay between two individuals. They become conflicts between two entire extended families or clans.

A feud can last for generations. One act of revenge leads to a counter-revenge. The cycle continues until one family is destroyed, driven away, or until a formal reconciliation takes place. In Svaneti, reconciliation traditionally required a mediator — usually a respected elder or a religious figure. The offending family had to pay compensation (blood money) and perform specific rituals. However, reconciliation was not always possible. Some families carried feuds for decades.

Self-Isolation and Living in Fear

Families caught in blood feuds often isolate themselves. Men stop going to public places. They stay inside their homes or compounds. Children may stop attending school. The entire family lives in constant fear of attack. This pattern of self-isolation is well documented in Albanian blood feuds, and a similar pattern exists in Georgian highland communities. The difference is that in Georgia, fewer families are affected at any given time. The practice is more localised.

Scale: Where Georgia Blood Feuds Occur

It is important to be honest about the scale. Georgia blood feuds are not as widespread as Albanian blood feuds. They are mainly concentrated in specific highland regions. The most affected area is Svaneti, particularly Upper Svaneti (Mestia municipality). Some cases also occur in parts of Adjara's mountain villages and in isolated communities in eastern Georgia.

The limited scale does not mean the threat is not real for those involved. A family caught in a blood feud faces a genuine risk of violence, regardless of how rare the practice is nationally. Moreover, the fact that Georgian blood feuds are less documented makes them harder to prove in court. This is why expert evidence is essential.

Georgia vs Albania: Blood Feuds Compared

Government Response to Georgia Blood Feuds

The Georgian government's response to blood feuds is limited. In the highland regions where feuds occur, police presence is sparse. The nearest police station may be hours away by difficult mountain roads. During winter, some villages are completely cut off. In these conditions, the state cannot provide effective protection.[4]

There is no specific Georgian law against blood feuds. Violence is covered by the Criminal Code under provisions for murder, assault, and threats. However, enforcement depends on police reaching remote communities and victims being willing to cooperate. In practice, many people in feuding families do not report to police. They fear that involving the authorities will make things worse. Additionally, local police officers in small highland communities may know both families and be reluctant to intervene.

In remote mountain areas of the South Caucasus, including parts of Georgia, customary justice systems continue to operate alongside formal state structures. The state's ability to enforce its laws in these areas remains limited by geography, infrastructure, and the strength of traditional authority.
OSCE, Report on Rule of Law in the South Caucasus, 2022

Furthermore, the Georgian government has not created any special programme to address blood feuds, unlike Albania, which has attempted (with limited success) to establish reconciliation committees. The absence of a government response is itself an important piece of evidence in asylum claims. It shows that the state does not take the issue seriously and cannot protect people affected by feuds.

How Georgia Blood Feuds Affect Women

Blood feuds are often seen as a male issue because men are the primary targets. However, women suffer greatly. Women in feuding families face severe restrictions on their movement and social life. They may be unable to leave the home, attend work, or access healthcare. In some cases, women have been kidnapped as a form of revenge against an enemy family. Additionally, women may be forced into marriages to resolve feuds — a practice where a daughter is given to the opposing family as part of a reconciliation agreement.[5]

This intersection between blood feuds and women's rights is important for asylum claims. Women from feuding families face both the general risk of the feud and specific gender-based harms. These include forced marriage, kidnapping, and extreme social isolation. Courts should consider the cumulative impact of these harms when assessing a claim.

Why Georgia Blood Feuds Matter for Asylum

The biggest challenge for asylum seekers fleeing Georgia blood feuds is proving the threat to a court that has never heard of the issue. Judges in the UK and US have extensive experience with Albanian blood feud cases. There are country guidance cases, detailed country of origin information reports, and a well-known legal framework. For Georgia, none of this exists.[6]

This means that an expert witness report is not just helpful — it is essential. A country expert can explain the historical and cultural context of Georgian blood feuds. They can present evidence from Georgian-language sources that are not available in English. They can explain why the state cannot protect the claimant and why internal relocation is not a safe option.

Building Your Asylum Case for a Georgia Blood Feud

If you are claiming asylum because of a blood feud in Georgia, you need specific types of evidence. First, provide a detailed witness statement explaining the history of the feud: what triggered it, who is involved, what has happened so far, and what threats you have received. Second, gather any supporting documents: police reports (if any), medical records from injuries, photographs, or statements from relatives.

Third, and most importantly, get an expert witness report. The expert should cover the history of blood feuds in Georgia, the specific region where your feud exists, the government's inability to protect you, and why internal relocation would not keep you safe. The asylum guide section of our website explains how expert reports work in more detail. Additionally, submit relevant country reports and ethnographic studies that confirm the existence of blood feud traditions in the relevant region.

Conclusion

Georgia blood feuds are a real but under-documented threat. They are concentrated in highland regions, especially Svaneti, and they follow a pattern of family-based retribution that can last for generations. While less widespread than Albanian blood feuds, they are no less dangerous for the families involved. The Georgian government's response is limited by geography, resources, and a lack of political will. For asylum seekers, the main challenge is proving a threat that most judges have never heard of. Expert witness reports are essential for bridging this gap. If you are affected by a blood feud in Georgia, seek legal advice immediately and request an expert witness who can explain this issue to the court.