State Minister for Reintegration: occupied Tskhinvali remains ‘closed and artificially isolated’
Calling on the international community to ‘strengthen the pressure’ on the occupying regime, the state ministry has reiterated that the Georgian authorities spare no efforts to ensure safety and freedom of movement for those living along the dividing line. Photo: Erik Hoeg/Twitter
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Georgian State Minister for Reintegration and Civic Equality Tea Akhvlediani has stated that the Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) remains ‘closed and artificially isolated’.
The State Minister noted as well that 16 people have died due to denied access to urgent medical care and delayed hospitalisation.
At the Geneva International Discussions, the Georgian delegation has strictly raised the issue of the dire humanitarian situation of the local population and the ethnic discrimination of Georgians on the occupied territories”, she stated.
Occupied Tskhinvali has closed the crossing-points connecting the region with the rest of Georgia for over a year now. Locals, who are not able to receive high quality medical assistance on the ground, are also restricted to go to Tbilisi-controlled territory.
Launched in October 2008, the Geneva International Discussions aim to address the consequences of the Russia-Georgia 2008, bringing together the participants of the conflict - Russia, Georgia and de facto regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, as well as the United States.
A 68-year-old doctor has died of coronavirus in the Russia-occupied Akhalgori district. Onise Gatenashvili was a surgeon at the Akhalgori hospital. His family requested he be sent to Tbilisi for treatment when he tested positive for COVID-19.
Speaking of the ‘grave’ humanitarian situation in the occupied region, the Georgian State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality said that the death of Inal Dzhabiev on August 28, like other fatal accidents in recent years, lays on the de facto Tskhinvali leadership.
People in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region don’t have access to vitally important healthcare services as the region has been in isolation for months, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili stated earlier today.
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.
Deoccupation ‘through peaceful means and with support of the international community’, restoration of territorial integrity and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons are among Georgia’s key foreign policy goals based on the resolution adopted by the Georgian parliament.
The humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and the discrimination of ethnic Georgians in the occupied Gali and Akhalgori districts were disscussed between Tea Akhvlediani, Georgia’s State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, and Latvian MPs during their visit to Georgia on Tuesday.