First case of COVID-19 reported in occupied Abkhazia
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Thursday, April 9
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region registered its first case of the novel Coronavirus on April 7th.
The de facto authorities of the region say that the infected individual is a 57-year-old man from Gagra, Georgia’s westernmost town, who has recently returned from Russia.
After testing positive for the Coronavirus, the patient was delivered to Gudauta hospital, where he now undergoes treatment.
A 50-year-old ethnic georgian resident of Abkhaz-controlled Gali district, who also travelled to Russia, is undergoing treatment on Tbilisi-controlled territory, after testing positive for the virus on March 30th, in Georgian-controlled Zugdidi’s hospital. More than 40 people who had contact with the woman or have suspicious symptoms have also been transported onto Tbilisi-controlled territory and are in quarantine in the seaside town of Anaklia.
As the news about Gali resident’s COVID-19 diagnosis emerged, Sokhumi then promptly restricted movement between Gali district and the rest of Abkhazia by setting up roadblocks on Gali-Ochamchire highway. Abkhaz authorities also imposed a nighttime curfew in Gali district in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
In a bid to halt the Coronavirus spread, on March 27th acting Abkhaz leader Valery Bganba declared a state of emergency in the region effective until April 20.
Fearing the Coronavirus outbreak, Abkhaz authorities imposed temporary restrictions on the Enguri Bridge crossing point, connecting the region with Georgia proper on February 27th, a day after Tbilisi recorded the first Coronavirus case.
Prior to that, on February 25th, Sokhumi extended a travel ban barring ‘foreign nationals,’ except Russian Federation citizens.
The Abkhaz authorities restricted the travel for Russian citizens into the occupied region on March 28th, as the confirmed cases surpassed 1,000 in the Russian Federation.
Georgian Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili says that the two Russian-occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali face the threat of an outbreak of COVID-19 as people have moved freely between the regions and Russia over the past several weeks.
“Since the onset of the outbreak, hundreds of people have entered Abkhazia from the Russian Federation, which has been affected by the disease,” Tsikhelashvili warned on April 1st.
Tsikhelashvili reaffirmed that Georgia is ready to provide support for its citizens living in the occupied regions.
She expressed hope that the de facto authorities will be able to address the issue in line with recommendations and take steps to trace people who had contact with the infected man.
Tsikhelashvili stated on April 1, that the attitude of the de facto authorities of Tskhinvali is ‘alarming and concerning,’ as they are refusing any cooperation with the central government regarding the Coronavirus or any other issue.
She expressed hope that the de facto government of Tskhinvali will act ‘more reasonably’ as the case concerns the life and health of people. So far, no COVID-19 confirmed cases have been reported from there.
As of the evening of April 8th, there are 8,672 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Russia.
Given the situation created by the Coronavirus pandemic, the Georgian government has repeatedly reaffirmed its readiness to provide full assistance to the people living on the other side of the occupation line. As the PM of Georgia noted, “It does not matter which side of the Enguri people are infected, we will help everyone, both in terms of medical services and all the means that the state of Georgia provides to its citizens today.”
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in constant coordination with the diplomatic missions accredited in Georgia and with international organizations, as well as with international non-governmental organizations, in order to jointly provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of the conflict.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work closely with partner countries and international organizations in order to maximize the provision of appropriate humanitarian assistance to people living in the occupied territories.
As stated by foreign minister, Zalkaliani, the possibility of effective action and assistance is limited by the fact that the occupation regime has closed and blocked the checkpoints, which makes the humanitarian situation very difficult.
It’s noteworthy that on March 28th, 2020, a new hospital was opened in the village of Rukhi located about a kilometre from Enguri Bridge, which connects Russia-occupied Abkhazia with the rest of Georgia.
The hospital has the capacity to accept 100 patients and is fully equipped with modern technologies. A dormitory has also been provided for the family members of patients undergoing treatment.
“Everybody, who will cross the occupation line in need of medical care, will receive the assistance… This is the main function and mission of this powerful medical centre,” PM Gakharia said.
