Jumber Miladze, 63, has died while being transported to a hospital on Tbilisi-controlled territory from the Akhalgori district of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region earlier today, IPN reports.
Reportedly, Miladze, who suffered a stroke in the Russian-controlled Akhalgori district was first taken to Tskhinvali hospital several days ago.
As his health condition worsened, Miladze’s family members wanted to transfer him to Tbilisi-controlled territory, though initially they were several times refused by the de-facto regime of Tskhinvali to receive appropriate medical services on Tbilisi-controlled territory.
Officials of the de facto regime allowed the transfer of Miladze to Tbilisi-controlled territory only yesterday, though he passed away in an ambulance on the way to hospital earlier today.
Akhalgori governor Nugzar Tinikashvili, who confirmed the information, says that Jumber Miladze is one more victim of the occupation regime in Georgia.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said ithat tonfortunately, Jumber Miladze is another victim of the very inhumane and illegal restrictions, which isolates the inhabitants of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.
It is absolutely, categorically unacceptable... It contains signs of ethnic discrimination, that worsens the actions of the occupation regime in the region", said Tsikhelashvili.
The Russian-controlled Tskhinvali closed the last crossing point connecting the region with the rest of Georgia on February 27, 2020 ‘to prevent the spread of coronavirus’.
In early February, 18 Georgian NGOs urged EU, UN, OSCE top officials and heads of international organisations to increase pressure on Russia, which effectively controls the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. The NGOs stated that the closure of the crossing points have already led to several deaths in Tskhinvali region due to the delayed medical aid.