A man from Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia has died after crossing the Enguri River to enter Tbilisi-controlled territory to meet with a family member, reports RFE/RL.
Municipal head Elguja Bokuchava told RFE/RL that the man from the village of Otobaia was trying to cross into Georgia’s western city of Zugdidi with his wife and children when he suddenly died. The man was already dead when an ambulance arrived.
RFE/RL reports that the man had arrived in his village a month ago on his father’s death anniversary and could not go back to the Tbilisi-controlled territory due to the closure of the so-called border with the rest of Georgia.
That’s why the man and his family had to go back to Tbilisi-controlled territory by crossing the river.
They hid from police in order to avoid mandatory quarantine or self-isolation.
A similar accident also happened last month. A 65-year-old man from Abkhazia’s Gali district was found dead by locals in the Enguri River. He was trying to cross to Tbilisi-controlled territory to receive his pension.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region has been completely closed since February 27, when the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Georgia. Since then locals from the region say they are experiencing a humanitarian crisis.