On 24 January, the de facto authorities of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) temporarily opened a crossing point between occupied Akhalgori district and the rest of Georgia for pensioners only, after an almost five-month closure, reported agenda.ge.
Local civic activist Tamar Mearakishvili reported that the crossing point opened earlier today for pensioners “whose only income is a pension issued by the central government” of Georgia. “This is a temporary measure and the pensioners have several days to come back to the district,” Mearakishvili said, adding that the crossing point is likely to be temporarily opened again for pensioners in two months. Radio Liberty reported that people in need of urgent medical care had also been allowed to temporarily leave the district.
On this occasion, the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said that “it is good that this particular group of people has got an opportunity to move freely,” adding that all other people should also [be able] exercise the same right. She stressed that the crossing point should be opened unconditionally, completely and that “free movement should be ensured.” “Still, this measure represents a kind of relief for locals, who have been locked in actual slavery for… five months, [it] poses a threat to their vital interests,” she added.
The Akhalgori Regional Governor Nugzar Tinikashvili confirmed that after the opening of the crossing point one mini-bus carrying 10 people entered the territory controlled by the Georgian central government. He also said that the mini-bus would travel back and would bring more people. “Entry of 30-40 people will not lessen the crisis but the process that started is welcomed,” he stated.
He also expressed hope that the locals would be able to move about freely with the so-called documents in the same way as before closure of the checkpoint. He said that about 5 thousand people held the so-called passes before the autumn of 2019 and expressed his hope that the new passes would be issued, and the situation normalized.
The European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) also welcomed the decision of the de facto authorities of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali, but called for the crossing point remain open permanently.
On 9 September the Tskhinvali KGB announced that two crossing points – Mosabruni of Akhalgori Municipality and Sinaguri of Sachkhere Municipality – connecting the region with the rest of Georgia would be closed temporarily, citing tensions coming from Tbilisi. It also noted that the crossing points will be opened as soon as the situation returns back to normal (Caucasus Watch reported).
