So-called borders closed for 12 days, Reconciliation Minister urges reopening to avoid humanitarian crisis
Reconciliation Minister Ketevan Tsikhelashvili says that the residents of the occupied regions face severe problems due to the closure of so-called borders. Photo: Reconciliation Ministry press office.
Tweet 
Share
Twelve days have passed since the closure of so-called borders by the de facto authorities of two occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to avoid the “spread of flu.”
Georgian Reconciliation Minister says that the situation may lead to the humanitarian crisis.
Tsikhelashvili states that the closure of so-called borders is not only an illegal, but also an inhuman act as locals have no access to food and items they vitally need on a daily basis.
We call upon everyone once again to reopen the so-called borders. Especially in the Tskhinvali region, locals are in complete isolation.
Woman standing in front of the main crossing point at the village of Odzisi which has been closed fo the 12 days. Photo:EUMM Georgia
We are working with our partners to settle the problem. There is no flu epidemic in Georgia and the decision has no justification”, Tsikhelashvili said.
Georgia has condemned the closure of the so-called borders several times and called upon the occupying forces and de facto authorities to allow the free movement of people.
Tskhinvali media reports that the so-called borders may remain closed for two weeks at least.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvil ihas criticised the de-facto leadership of Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) for their decision to close the so-called border with the rest of Georgia to avoid the spread of H1N1 flu.
De facto leaderships of two Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) have decided to close the so-called border with the rest of Georgia to “avoid the spread of H1NI,” the flu which has claimed 15 lives in Georgia.
Eighteen people have died because of the swine flu (H1N1) in Georgia this winter, the Georgian National Disease Control Centre says.
The Georgian occupied region of Abkhazia has re-opened the so-called border with the rest of Georgia yesterday, which was closed on 11 January by the de facto leadership of the region “to avoid the spread of swine flu.” Erik Hoeg, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) head to Georgia, tweeted the news yesterday.
Occupying forces have decided to temporarily open the so-called checkpoint in the Akhalgori area, currently occupied by Russia, to allow for up to 200 residents of the territory to leave the district.The closure created serious problems for students, who needed to leave the territory and those who generally visit doctors in the other Georgian regions.
The central Georgian government has called upon Russia and the de facto leaderships of the two Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to reopen so-called borders with the rest of Georgia, which were closed on 11 January “to avoid the spread of swine flu.”
The de-facto leadership of one of Georgia’s Russian occupied regions of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) will close the crossing-points connecting with the rest of Georgia tomorrow.
Georgian Reconciliation Minister Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has presented a report on peace initiative ‘Step to Better Future’ of the Georgian government when meeting with delegates of the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) and the EU monitoring mission June 26 in Tbilisi. The presented report aimed to show the Georgian government’s position regarding the conflict resolution in Russia-occupied regions of Georgia.