Acting US ambassador addresses occupation forces in Georgian language to open crossing points
Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood has several times urged the occupation forces to reopen the crossing points which were closed on September 4, 2019. Photo: US embassy press office. Photo: US embassy, Tbilisi.
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Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood has addressed the Russian-controlled occupation forces to open crossing points between Tskhinvali region and the rest of Georgia and “allow locals to live without fear.”
Rood has made the statement earlier today while opening a renovated school in the village of Kveshi, at the occupation line, with renovation work funded by the US government.
The US government supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We once again urge the de facto authorities to open the crossing points and allow locals move freely, have access to medical care and live without fear,” Rood said.
Video has been released by RFE/RL.
The Russian-controlled de facto government of Tskhinvali closed crossing points with the rest of Georgia in early September 2019, depriving locals of right to movement to other areas of the country, receiving needed medical care or buying vitally important everyday items.
Locals say that the humanitarian situation on the ground is ‘severe.’
The US government spent 2.5 million GEL on the renovation of Kveshi school. Photo: US embassy, Tbilisi.
The de facto authorities say that they will reopen the crossing points after the central Georgian government removes a police post from the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, which is located on the Tbilisi-administered territory.
Tskhinvali says that the police post “is too close to South Ossetia, creating security threats to our population.”
Perevi-Kartsmani crossing point between Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region and the rest of Georgia has been opened.
Russian-controlled occupation forces have erected “illegal installations” at the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, on Tbilisi-administered territory, the Georgian State Security Service has reported earlier today.
Tamar Gigauri, who fell into a well of seven meters deep in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Akhalgori on November 4, is in critical condition, states Democracy Research Institute.
EUMM head to Georgia Erik Hoeg says that the 7th special meeting in Ergneti, which was dedicated to easing tension at the villages of Tsnelisi and Chorchana, has ended without substantial progress.The Georgian State Security Service has reported that the Russian-controlled de facto government of Tskhinvali still continues to demand the removal of an ordinary police post from the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, which is located on the Tbilisi-controlled territory.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said in response to recent developments in the Russia-occupied region of Abkhazia that the Government of Georgia is not only ready for dialogue with the Abkhaz and Ossetian public but is making steps forward.
De facto President of Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region Anatoly Bibilov has stated that he is against the reopening of crossing points with the rest of Georgia which have been closed since September 2019 and which has created a severe humanitarian situation on the ground.
The US is concerned by current developments at the occupation line, near the village of Chorchana, acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood has stated earlier today, referring to the erection of new barriers by Russian-controlled occupation forces at the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, on the Tbilisi-controlled territory earlier this month.
De facto authorities of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region has temporarily opened the crossing point between occupied Akhalgori district and the rest of Georgia for pensioners only after an almost five-month closure, which has created a severe humanitarian situation on the ground. Local civic activist Tamar Mearakishvili reports that the crossing point opened earlier today for pensioners “whose only income is the pension issued by the central government” of Georgia.
The Russian-controlled Tskhinvali leadership has allowed pensioners living in the occupied Akhalgori district to visit the rest of Georgia once in two months, to receive their pensions, REC news agency reports.Humanitarian situation in Akhalgori is severe as the de facto authorities of Georgia's occupied region closed crossing points with the rest of Georgia in early September 2019, depriving locals from receiving timely and quality medical treatment or buy everyday items they need.