Occupied Abkhazia, Tskhinvali reject offer from Tbilisi to vaccinate health workers, elderly
Both occupied regions are expecting to receive vaccines produced by Russia. Photo: UNICEF Georgia
Tweet 
Share
The de-facto leadership of Russian occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) have rejected an offer from Tbilisi to vaccinate health workers and people above 65.
Both occupied regions have stated in response to the recent offer from the Georgian officials that they are expecting to receive ‘reliable’ vaccines from Russia.
De-facto foreign ministry of Tskhinvali said the offer from Tbilisi was ‘surprising’ and ‘cynical’. Stating that ‘South Ossetia is a sovereign and independent state’ it said none of the decisions made by the Georgian officials have any legal force.
Meanwhile de-facto Abkhaz officials have also stated that they are looking forward to the assistance from their ‘strategic partner’ - Russia.
Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze has stated that mass Covid-19 immunisation is expected to start in Georgia in July, but it will not be mandatory. Photo: UNICEF Georgia
Georgian officials have stated earlier today that medical workers and individuals above 65 residing in Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions will be able to undergo Covid-19 vaccination on Tbilisi-controlled territory.
Georgia, which has received 43,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and 29,250 doses of Pfizer vaccine, enables the target groups to choose between those two. The country is also expecting to receive Sinopharm vaccine next month.
Medical workers and individuals above 65 residing in Georgia’s Russia-occupied Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions will be able to undergo Covid-19 vaccination on Tbilisi-controlled territory, Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, Tea Akhvlediani said earlier today.
Mass Covid-19 immunisation is expected to start in Georgia in July, announces Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze, adding that it does not mean that getting the vaccination against coronavirus will become mandatory.
Georgia will likely receive Chinese coronavirus vaccines Sinopharm next month, announces deputy Health Minister of Georgia Tamar Gabunia. She said that in addition, negotiations are underway to receive additional doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines.
Georgia has reported 616 new cases of coronavirus, 268 recoveries and five deaths in the past 24 hours. In total 31,947 tests have been conducted around the country in the past 24 hours, of which 20,364 were rapid tests, while the remaining 11,583 were PCR tests.
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’.
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.
The Democracy Research Institute (DRI) has called on the Georgian authorities to immediately draw up an effective plan to manage the difficult epidemiological situation in Georgia’s Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region.
Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani has stated that more than 800 people infected with coronavirus have undergone treatment on Tbilisi-controlled territory since the beginning of the pandemic.
A number of schools and kindergartens have suspended their classes due to confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia's Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region, RES media has reported on Tuesday.
All schools in the cities of Gagra and Sokhumi in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region have suspended their classes due to confirmed COVID-19 cases.