Threat of spread of COVID-19 in the occupied regions of Georgia

Lado Bitchashvili, Shida Kartli

The occupied regions of Georgia are particularly unprepared for the spread of COVID-19. The situation in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region is particularly complicated because of poor healthcare system and closed crossing points with the rest of Georgia that limits access to healthcare services for locals. 

According to local media, three cases of COVID-19 infection were confirmed in the occupied Abkhazia. The last fact is connected with 95-years-old person in Gagra, who is in self-isolation. His health state is of average gravity. Before that, Abkhazian media reported about two cases of infection, who took treatment in Gudauti central hospital. Abkhazian media reports only about three COVID-infected persons and does not mention the 50-years-old woman from Saberio village of Gali district, who has COVID-19 infection and undergoes medical treatment in Zugdidi hospital. This fact raises doubts whether correct information is reported from the occupied region. 

Tskhinvali de-facto authority does not report anything about the COVID-19 infected citizens in Tskhinvali region. The emergency situation was announced in the occupied Tskhinvali and Akhalgori districts on March 28. In the frame of the emergency situation, people are prohibited to gather in public places. Besides groceries and pharmacies, all other shops, cafes and restaurants were closed. People older than 70 were suggested not to go out. 

So-called state television IRI does not report anything about the COVID-infected people and the problems in the healthcare system of Tskhinvali either. 

De-facto minister of foreign affairs of Tskhinvali de-facto government Dimitri Medoev stated he believes the threat of the spread of the COVID-19 is coming from the Georgia-controlled territory. “Government of South Ossetia will combat the spread of the disease from Georgia. The Government strictly controls the situation in South Ossetia. All institutions are working effectively and smoothly. All attempts of the Georgian special forces to “export problem” to South Ossetia is unsuccessful,” Medoev said.

 

“Apparently, they felt a threat but very late. The COVID-19 is dangerous for everybody. It is not right time to discuss where the threat is coming from; everybody is under risk and it is necessary to take preventive measures,” reporter of the Radio Liberty Goga Aptsiauri said and added that the healthcare system in the occupied Tskhinvali is not yet ready to fight against the COVID-19. 

“Tskhinvali de-facto authority petitioned Russia for help and they received 200 tests from them however nobody knows how trustworthy those tests are while Georgia had to reject 200 000 tests because trustworthy of those tests were questionable. The GoG many times offered help to the occupied regions. The address of the GoG is available in Abkhazian, Ossetian and Russian languages. Unlike Ossetians, Abkhaz side accepted the support from Georgia and via Enguri Bridge, international organizations – UNDP and World Health Organization supplied the doctors in Abkhazia with necessary medical equipment. In the end of February, Abkhazian side requested technical meeting in Gali and they had questions about the COVID-19. During the meeting, they requested the GoG for the support from international organizations and received it. Unlike Abkhazia, people of South Ossetia claim that they do not need any help from Georgia and live with the hope of Russia only. Tskhinvali did not take preventive measures until Russia introduced strict restrictions. There is only one laboratory in Tskhinvali of the third or fourth level; however in order to detect the COVID-19 infection they need first and second level laboratory like we have in Tbilisi,” Goga Aptsiauri said. 

“Prime Minister already stated and I will repeat – it is no difference on which side of the occupation line our population lives. We are ready to assist our people,” the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Integrity Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said, who added that the GoG is ready to transport people from Tskhinvali and Abkhazia to the Georgia-controlled territory and also in case of necessity send doctors to Tskhinvali and Abkhazia and provide locals with medical assistance. 

“We must be allowed to transform our readiness into action. We are not talking only about medical aid in Tskhinvali but also about humanitarian aid because residents of the occupied territory are in isolation. There is a humanitarian crisis there and we wish to send food and medicines there; we are ready for that and I wish to hope that we will reach agreement because it is humanitarian action that should not be politicized,” Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said.

Human Rights Center, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee released a joint special statement regarding the ongoing situation in two occupied regions of Georgia in relation with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to the statement, considering that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are under the effective control of Russia militarily, economically and politically, the Human Rights Center and FIDH call on the Russian Federation and local de facto authorities to: protect the right to health and provide relevant medical services and supplies in the districts of Akhalgori and Gali during the coronavirus outbreak; provide timely and accurate information to people living in Akhalgori and Gali regarding the ways of protection from the novel coronavirus, including in Georgian language for ethnic Georgian population.

The human rights organizations call on the Government of Georgia to use all available means to provide medical help to people living in Gali and Akhalgori districts and information regarding means of protection against coronavirus.