Georgian gov’t ready to support Russia-occupied Tskhinvali, Abkhazia amid coronavirus outbreak
Early in March the Russian controlled Tskhinvali region requested ‘vital medical products’ from Russia amid Russia’s recent temporary ban on various medical products, including face masks. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has urged the residents of the Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions to follow recommendations of the World Health Organization, saying that the Georgian government is ready help them prevent the spread of COVID-19 if the need arises.
We have translated into Abkhaz and Ossetian languages all the recommendations published by the World Health Organisation and Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control and we will try to provide more useful information for the population living in the occupied territories… Under the occupation and without direct control it is not easy to implement effective measures in terms of preventing the residents from the virus, but, with the help of our partners, we are ready to help our citizens. Our main priority is to take care of them”, said Tsikhelashvili.
Earlier in March the Russian controlled Tskhinvali region requested ‘vital medical products’ from Russia amid Russia’s recent temporary ban on various medical products, including face masks.
De facto Tskhinvali said that there was a lack of face masks in the region, with the price of those in stock having already increased 20 times.
On March 3 Tskhinvali closed the so-called border with 60 countries, excluding Russia, to prevent the spread of coronavirus – COVID-19.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has announced today that all malls will temporarily close in the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Only groceries, pharmacies, gas stations, post offices and banks will remain open.
De facto officials of the Russian occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia have announced that the Enguri Bridge crossing point, which connects the occupied region with the rest of the country, will close at 8 p.m. on March 14.
Russia will send mobile brigades to Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia region ‘to prevent the spread of the new, China-born coronavirus’.
The Russian controlled Abkhazia region has announced it is barring entry 'to all foreigners except Russians', including the only crossing point connecting the region with the rest of Georgia because of the new, China-born coronavirus.
Georgia has reported three more cases of the coronavirus in the evening, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 70, including nine individuals who have recovered. As of now, the number of infected individuals stands at 59 in Georgia out of 70.
The Tbilisi-based Lugar Lab is capable of identifying the origin of certain cases of COVID-19 per its genetic sequence.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region has confirmed its first case of the coronavirus today. RES media outlet reports an individual with coronavirus entered the region on April 30 from Russia and was placed under quarantine.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region has reported two more cases of the coronavirus, increasing the total number of infected individuals to three.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region has confirmed eight new cases of coronavirus today, bringing the total number of cases to 11.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region has confirmed four new cases of coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 15.
The de-facto government of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region of Georgia has confirmed one new case of coronavirus, bringing the total to 23 in the region.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that all states party to the Open Skies Treaty ‘must fully implement their commitments and obligations’, while Russia has imposed flight restrictions ‘inconsistent with the Treaty’.
The Russian-controlled Abkhazia region has opened the only crossing point on Enguri Bridge earlier today for people who were undergoing treatment for COVID-19 and other diseases on Tbilisi-controlled territory.
The de facto government of Georgia’s Russian occupied Abkhazia region has closed the only crossing point with the rest of Georgia earlier today, after opening it on May 26 to allow back in individuals who had undergone treatment on the Tbilisi controlled territory.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region has reported 12 new cases of coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases in the region to 57. 31 of the 57 patients have already recovered.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has thanked Georgia for helping three Russian seamen in Nigeria return home on a repatriation flight, as well as for assistance in the repatriation of Russian nationals from Georgia.
A 65-year-old man from Russian-occupied Abkhazia has been found dead by locals in the Enguri River. Municipal head Elguja Bokuchava said the man was trying to cross to Tbilisi-controlled territory to receive his pension.
An additional six coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the village of Saberio, in Gali municipality of occupied Abkhazia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Mikhail Petrakov his special representative for border delimitation and demarcation with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, as well as Georgia and its Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region will open the Enguri crossing point to the rest of Georgia later today after almost a one year closure, Georgia’s State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani stated earlier today.
Representative of the de facto president of the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on post-conflict issues, Murat Jioev, said Georgia is offering a quantity of vaccine that is not enough for the region and ‘this is nothing more than political propaganda’.
Georgia has reported 499 new cases of coronavirus, 437 recoveries and seven deaths in the past 24 hours.
The de facto government of Georgia’s Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region has imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the region. Educational institutions, gyms, and children’s entertainment venues will be closed until November 1, while weddings, funerals and other social events have been prohibited until December 1.
A total of 30,198 individuals have been infected with COVID-19 in Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia region since the spring of 2020, reports RFE/RL.