Georgian gov’t opens testing tents near Enguri Bridge crossing point for residents of occupied Abkhazia
Earlier this month Georgian rescuers found bodies of four individuals who were trying to cross onto territory controlled by the central Government of Georgia from Russia-occupied Gali through the Enguri River. The State Security Service of Georgia said that this was a result of restrictions ‘unlawfully’ imposed by the occupation regime over free movement and damaging practice of unlawful detentions’. Photo: Tamar Zantaraia/Radio Liberty.
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian government has opened two testing tents near Enguri Bridge crossing point where residents of Russia-occupied Abkhazia region will be able to undergo coronavirus testing before entering Tbilisi-controlled territory.
Starting today the residents of Russia-occupied Abkhazia will no longer be required to be placed under mandatory 5-day quarantine when coming onto the territory controlled by the central Government of Georgia. They will have to undergo Covid-19 rapid tests instead of 5-day quarantine.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports that in addition to the testing tents, another medical facility has been opened where individuals with suspicious symptoms of virus will be placed for testing.
If individuals test negative, they will be able to move freely, while those with positive Covid-19 test answer will be transferred to a Covid clinic, quarantine zone or may be placed in self isolation at home”, head of Zugdidi Public Health Centre, Nana Odisharia told RFE/RL.
Residents of the Russia-occupied territory over the age of 55 will also be able to voluntarily get vaccinated. Citizens vaccinated with two-dose shots will no longer be obliged to take tests when entering the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia.
To note, earlier this month Georgian rescuers found bodies of four individuals who were trying to cross onto territory controlled by the central Government of Georgia from Russia-occupied Gali through the Enguri River.
The State Security Service of Georgia said that this was a result of restrictions ‘unlawfully’ imposed by the occupation regime over free movement and damaging practice of unlawful detentions’.
The de facto officials of Abkhazia closed the Enguri Bridge crossing point on March 14, 2020 to allegedly prevent the spread of the coronavirus, while it was opened on February 11, 2021 for retirees and people with health problems.
The de facto government of occupied Abkhazia allows residents of the region, mainly in the Gali district, to cross onto the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia with a special ‘pass’, which costs 45 GEL ($13.14/€11/05) and must be received in Sokhumi.
Another obstacle for people living in Abkhazia was that they had to go into five-days quarantine when coming onto the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia.
For this reason, they refused to use the bridge and cross the border through the Enguri River instead to avoid the quarantine.
Most often people come from Abkhazia to the rest of Georgia for food, medical services, medicines and to visit their relatives.