Russian-controlled Tskhinvali temporarily closes only crossing point with rest of Georgia
Georgian regions of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia were recognised as independent republics by Russia after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Russian-controlled de facto Tskhinvali region of Georgia has announced a ‘temporarily closure’ of the only, Kartsmani crossing point with the rest of Georgia ‘due to increased security threats in New Year days.’
The de facto authorities say that the crossing point will be closed at 8 pm today and will reopen at 6 am on January 3, 2020.
The other crossing points between the region and the rest of Georgia have been closed since early September of 2019, creating a severe humanitarian situation on the ground.
The Democracy Research Institute NGO, chaired by former Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili, has reported the death of 49-year-old Georgian citizen B.K. in Akhalgori [under Russian control] hospital due to closed crossing points with the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.
Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Georgia Erik Hoeg has briefed the Political and Security Committee (PSC) ambassadors from EU member states on the recent developments at the occupation line with Georgia’s currently Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (so-called South Ossetia) region in Brussels.
A mother living in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Akhalgori district was not allowed to leave the territory for several days to mourn her son who died in the Tserovani settlement, on Tbilisi-administered territory. The story caused public turmoil on social media, with the mother permitted to leave Akhalgori only late yesterday [while the young man died on September 22], Radio Liberty reports.
De facto official of the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, Egor Kochiev said the Georgian police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana in Khashuri Municipality, close to Tskhinvali should be dismantled by 6 a.m. Friday, August 30.
Perevi-Kartsmani crossing point between Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region and the rest of Georgia has been opened.