President Zurabishvili: Crossing point closure is yet another human rights violation in occupied Tskhinvali
Russian-controlled de facto leadership of Tskhinvali refuses to reopen crossing points with the rest of Georgia, creating severe humanitarian situation on the ground. Photo: EUMM Head of Mission/Twitter
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said yesterday that the closure of the Akhalgori crossing point connecting the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, with the rest of Georgia “is yet another violation of human rights”.
The closing of the Akhalgori crossing point is yet another violation of #humanrights in the occupied Tskhinvali reg. The right to movement is a fundamental right that must be respected. I call on the int'l community to put pressure on all responsible parties to #openthecrossingpoint
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) February 7, 2020
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili also underscored earlier that the closure of the crossing point "is the same as not only taking Georgians hostage, but also Ossetians".
De facto authorities of occupied Tskhinvali region temporarily reopened the Akhalgori crossing point for pensioners only on January 24, after an almost five-month closure, which has created a severe humanitarian situation on the ground.
However, they have already closed the crossing point, promising to reopen it again once in two months, so that locals can receive their pensions on Tbilisi-administred territory.
The Russian-controlled de facto leadership of Tskhinvali has closed the Razdakhani crossing point for Akhalgori population, which was opened for pensioners only on January 24, 2020, after almost a five-month illegal closure.Local civic activists say that a small portion of those who were allowed to leave the Russian-occupied district decided to stay on the Tbilisi-administered territory either for treatment or to spend the winter with relatives.
Tamar Gigauri, 60, who received heavy injuries after falling into a well of seven meters deep in Georgia’s Russian-controlled Akhalgori district in early November of 2019 has only today been allowed to leave the district to receive necessary treatment on the Tbilisi-administered territory.
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.
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.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said yesterday that two ethnic Georgian principals have been dismissed from schools in the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, which is “yet another proof of repression” of the occupying forces on the ground.
The State Security Service of Georgia reported today that the occupying forces carried out illegal activities near the village of Orchosani in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, which "are provocative and harm the security environment on the ground”.
Local media reports that there is not enough food in Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region, with dairy products and children’s food in particular deficit. Media outlet Rec reports that food has not entered from Russia into the region for more than a week due to certain, technicnical problems and the local ‘de facto authorities are holding talks to resolve the problem.’
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has called upon the international community to react to the violation of elementary humanitarian principles in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region after the confiscation and prohibition of Georgian-labeled medicines from the occupied territory.
President Salome Zurabishvili says that 'we might want to think about new steps to be taken and new positions to present with our partners or with Russia'. However, she states that these must not be the steps of concession or adoption to occupation. Delivering her annual speech at parliament earlier today, Zurabishvili said that any issue, which will not and should not be forcibly settled, ‘needs carriage, reason, advancement [through drawing red lines] and unity to be settled.’