Teacher dies in Russian-occupied Akhalgori after being denied entry to Tbilisi-controlled territory for treatment
Vera Kotolova had requested entry to Tbilisi-controlled territory several times before her death. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Vera Kotolova, a teacher from Georgia’s Russian-occupied Akhalgori district who suffered serious health issues, has died as she was denied entry to Tbilisi-controlled territory for treatment.
Akhalgori municipality governor Nugzar Tinikashvili says that it is not the first time locals in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region have died due to low quality medical aid in the region and being unable to receive permission to travel to Tbilisi-controlled territory by the de facto authorities.
There is a severe humanitarian and other crisis in the region both for ethnic Georgians and Ossetians,” Tinikashvili said.
The de facto authorities closed the so-called crossing points with the rest of Georgia at the end of February 2020, shortly after Georgia confirmed its first case of coronavirus on February 26, 2020.
The region has had 197 cases of coronavirus so far. 107 of the 197 cases were recorded since Tskhinvali allowed Russian citizens into the region on September 15.
The Russian-controlled Tskhinvali has closed the so-called “border” with the rest of Georgia and over 60 other countries to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
The Russian-controlled Tskhinvali authorities have announced the closure of the last, Kartsmani crossing point in Sachkhere municipality, connecting the region with the rest of Georgia ‘to prevent the spread of coronavirus.’
Residents of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Akhalgori district have to receive Ossetian passports in order to get pensions, reports the Democracy Research Institute (DRI) NGO. Several pensioners have already been granted Ossetian citizenship under a simplified procedure in Akhalgori district.
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.
Patrol police will monitor adhesion to regulations aimed to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. The Georgian Interior Ministry calls on citizens to wear face masks and maintain social distancing at metro stations.