Reconciliation Minister: people in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali have no access to vitally important healthcare services
RFE/RL reports that last week two individuals have died in the Russian-occupied Akhalgori district hospital and two others are in critical condition. The Occupying regime makes no exception for patients in need of emergency care. Photo: 1TV.ge.
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People in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region don’t have access to vitally important healthcare services as the region has been in isolation for months, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili stated earlier today.
Tsikhelashvili noted that since September 4, 2019, 13 individuals have died because of the situation on the ground.
De facto Tskhinvali closed crossing points with Georgia on September 4, 2019 and, since then, 13 people have lost their lives. This does not fit into any of the principles of humanity. Of course, it is completely illegal to violate the fundamental rights to life and health”, said Tsikhelashvili.
Tsikhelashvili has called on all decision making individuals not to interfere with those who are in need of help and allow them the opportunity to move to Tbilisi-controlled territory.
As you know, Georgia has a free state referral program, with the help of which many lives of the residents of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions have been saved. The Georgian state serves all citizens, regardless of ethnic origin” said Tsikheashvili.
RFE/RL reports that last week two individuals have died in the Russian-occupied Akhalgori district hospital and two others are in critical condition.
The reason for this is the closure of the so-called border, due to which the residents of Akhalgori cannot enter Tbilisi. The Occupying regime makes no exception for patients in need of emergency care.
Georgian media outlet Netgazeti.ge reported earlier today that a 70-ear-old man from the village of Ikoti was diagnosed with cancer in Tskhinvali and doctors advised him to go to Tbilisi for treatment.
Gocha Bunturi, the son of the patient says that all measures have been taken, including negotiations with the local de facto government, but in vain.
Another patient is Naira Cherkezishvili, who is currently in Akhalgori clinic with acute heart disease. The woman needs emergency surgery on her heart, but she is also unable to receive medical treatment in the Tbilisi-controlled area.
Due to the lack of healthcare services and qualified medical staff, patients in Akhalgori clinic are unable to receive proper services, writes Netgazeti.ge.
A 65-year-old man was buried in Akhalgori yesterday. He had called an ambulance several times in recent weeks as he had low blood pressure. Later he visited the hospital himself, but was not treated properly and died at the clinic.
Two more people have recuperated from coronavirus in Georgia increasing the total number of recoveries to 71. The country has confirmed a total of 306 cases of COVID-19 since February 26, including 230 active cases of the virus and three deaths.
Margo Martiashvili, who suffered a stroke in the Russian-controlled Akhalgori district, has died earlier today in the hospital of occupied Tskhinvali as her relatives were unable to transport her to the Tbilisi-controlled territory via the shortest route due to the closure of the so-called border.
A mother living in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Akhalgori district was not allowed to leave the territory for several days to mourn her son who died in the Tserovani settlement, on Tbilisi-administered territory. The story caused public turmoil on social media, with the mother permitted to leave Akhalgori only late yesterday [while the young man died on September 22], Radio Liberty reports.
Georgian Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has stated in parliament earlier today that at the moment she was delivering a speech in parliament, Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region was “was almost fully isolated” from the rest of Georgia.
The de facto Tskhinvali government has announced the closure of two crossing points with the rest of Georgia, saying the reason is an ‘escalation of tension at certain sections of the border with Georgia.’The so-called security committee of Tskhinvali has accused Tbilisi of sparking the tension, stating that the crossing points will reopen when the tension fades.
Georgia has reported 30 new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 336. 74 of the 336 patients have recovered, while three others have died. As of today Georgia has 257 active cases of the virus. 5,000 people are under quarantine in Georgia and 494 others are in hospitals. The four main cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Rustavi - have been put under lockdown for at least ten days starting April 15.
Incidents of borderisation carried out by occupation forces in central Georgia's Kareli Municipality on Friday have been condemned in responses of the official Tbilisi as "destructive" acts amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
40-year old Gela Gariev has died in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, as local doctors could not diagnose his medical problem and offer him appropriate care, reports RFE/RL.
Georgian State Minister for Reintegration and Civic Equality Tea Akhvlediani has stated that the Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) remains ‘closed and artificially isolated’. The State Minister noted as well that 16 people have died due to denied access to urgent medical care and delayed hospitalisation.