Reconciliation Minister says tragic death of 3 near occupation line ‘once again shows real face of Russian occupation’
Georgian rescuers have found the bodies of four individuals who were trying to cross into territory controlled by the central government of Georgia from Russian-occupied Gali through the Enguri River. Photo: Tamar Zantaraia/RFE/RL.
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“The tragic incident near the occupation line once again shows the real face of the Russian occupation… This is a great human tragedy for which the Russian Federation is held fully responsible”, said Georgian Reconciliation Minister Tea Akhvlediani while expressing her condolences over the tragic death of the three Georgian citizens.
Today Georgian rescuers have found the bodies of three individuals who were trying to cross into territory controlled by the central government of Georgia from Russian-occupied Gali through the Enguri River.
A fourth person has been reported missing.
The occupation line has for many years been artificially alienating people living on both sides of the dividing barricades and, unfortunately resulted in the death of many people. As a result of ongoing occupation in Georgia, the fundamental human rights and fundamental freedom of our citizens are still violated in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions. For this the Russian Federation is held fully responsible”, reads the statement of the Ministry for Reconciliation and Civil Equality.
The central government of Georgia has activated the hot line regarding the tragic incident.
The EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM), as well as the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions, have been informed about the event.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already launched an investigation.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region has been completely closed since February 27, when the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Georgia. Since then the residents of Gali district say they are experiencing a humanitarian crisis.
It has been nearly a year since locals of Gali district have been deprived of basic rights, including quality medical aid. Also, they are not able to receive pensions or IDP benefits.
- 65-year-old man from occupied Abkhazia dies trying to enter Tbilisi-controlled territory to receive pension
- Man from occupied Abkhazia dies after crossing river to enter Tbilisi-controlled territory
The reason is that locals of Gali used to receive money in Zugdidi or elsewhere on Tbilisi-controlled territory, but now the borders have been closed at the Enguri Bridge crossing point by the Sukhumi de-facto government amid the 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.
A man from Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia has died after crossing the Enguri River to enter Tbilisi-controlled territory to meet with a family member, reports RFE/RL.
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.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated that the Russian-controlled occupation forces are responsible for the death of individuals who drowned in the river of Enguri while trying to cross into Tbilisi-controlled territory from the Russian occupied Gali district of Georgia. The bodies of two 30 and 38-year old women and a 65-year-old man were found earlier today, while the husband of one of the deceased women is still missing.
The United States Embassy in Georgia extends ‘heartfelt condolences’ to the family and friends of the Georgians who died yesterday attempting to cross the Enguri River to get from the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region to the Tbilisi-controlled territory.
Flags on all government buildings across Georgia and diplomatic missions abroad will be flying at half staff tomorrow because of the death of four individuals of the country’s Russian-occupied Gali district of Abkhazia.