12:12, 12 March 2020

Dozens of residents of Abkhazia cannot get home from Georgia due to coronavirus quarantine

A man wearing a medical mask. Photo: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Residents of the Gali District, who had travelled to Georgia, have complained that border guards did not let them home to Abkhazia, forcing them to stay in hotels. The measures have to do with the spread of coronavirus in Georgia, said the Minister of Public Health of Abkhazia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Abkhazia had also closed its borders to all foreigners and stateless persons, except for those who need no visa to enter the country.

As of March 10, 2020, Georgia has recorded 23 cases of coronavirus infection. After the introduction of restrictions on their travels to Georgia, residents of pre-border areas of Abkhazia complained that this deprives them of earnings.

Adgur Arshilava, a resident of the Gali District, said that he crossed the Abkhaz-Georgian border a week ago and went to Zugdidi to work, but was unable to return home because Abkhaz border guards did not let him in.

Irina Labakhua, a resident of the Gali District, said that her husband, who had been treated in a Georgian hospital, stayed on the Georgian side of the border. She has noted that her husband ran out of money; and she could not take it to him.

Tamaz Tsakhnakiya, the Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare, has noted that residents of Abkhazia should treat such restrictions with understanding, since they can bring a dangerous virus into the country and infect other people.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 11, 2020 at 06:58 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Anna Gritsevich

Source: CK correspondent