US Embassy saddened by death of 4 Georgians while attempting to cross Enguri River from occupied Abkhazia
Georgian rescuers found the bodies of four individuals who were trying to cross onto territory controlled by the central government of Georgia from Russian-occupied Gali through the Enguri River yesterday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge archive
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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.
Protection of human life demands continued joint cooperation by all sides in order to avert future tragedies such as yesterday’s drowning deaths. This heartbreaking situation reminds us all that every day for too many years, families have been forced to make unimaginable choices to be with the people they love, find medical care and education, or put food on the table”, the US Embassy said in its statement.
Noting that the US commitment to Georgia’s territorial integrity is unwavering, the embassy said ‘so is our commitment to the people suffering through this humanitarian crisis’.
"This heartbreaking situation reminds us all that every day for too many years, families have been forced to make unimaginable choices to be with the people they love"https://t.co/KuGU79DGpy
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) April 8, 2021
Two men and two women drowned in the Enguri River yesterday while trying to cross onto Tbilisi-controlled territory from the Gali district to purchase everyday items and medicines which are either absent or expensive in occupied Abkhazia.
Locals told journalists that the four were forced to enter the river after the Russia-backed occupying forces ran after them with dogs.
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Georgian citizens residing in the Russian-occupied regions face a number of restrictions from the de facto officials of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali including the closure of the so-called checkpoints connecting the regions with the rest of Georgia, causing security and humanitarian troubles.