PM Garibashvili on death of four from occupied Gali: Russia will be held accountable for its illegal actions

Georgian Prime Minister Minister Irakli Garibashvili has responded to the recent death of four individuals from the country’s Russian-occupied Gali district and stated that the ‘occupation regime will definitely be held accountable for all its illegal actions in Georgia.’  

• President says Russia responsible for recent death of occupied Gali residents

Two men and two women drowned in the Enguri River yesterday while trying to cross onto Tbilisi-controlled territory from the Gali district in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region. 

Locals have told journalists that the individuals wanted to buy everyday items and medicines on Tbilisi-controlled territory which are either absent or expensive in Abkhazia. 

They also said that the Russian-controlled occupation forces ran after individuals with dogs and the four were forced to enter the river. 

I want to offer sincere condolences to the families of the deceased individuals. The individuals have become the victims of the occupation forces who have been violating fundamental rights of our citizens for years. The Russian controlled occupation forces are responsible for such incidents and they will be held accountable for this with the help of our international partners,” Garibashvili said earlier today. 

All four bodies were found yesterday in the river of Enguri. Photo: IPN. 

The de facto leaderships of Georgia’s two Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions frequently close the so-called checkpoints to the rest of Georgia due to different reasons which sparks serious humanitarian difficulties in the regions because the locals can buy everyday items and receive quality medical assistance only on the Tbilisi-controlled territory. 

Currently locals are able to leave the Abkhazia region only with a special pass which costs 1,000 roubles (45 GEL, 13 USD). 

Locals say that they live in poverty and in some cases are unable to pay for the pass which pushes them to use alternative ways to move to others regions of the country. 

They also state that a five-day coronavirus quarantine on the Tbilisi-controlled territory is also problematic for them.