Zakareishvili: in 2009, 5000 Georgians in Gali District received Abkhazian passports

According to Georgian political scientist and human rights activist Paata Zakareishvili, the passportization process of Georgian population in Abkhazia goes with great difficulties. People are forced to obtain Abkhazian passports, but then they are forbidden to do it. Under his data borrowed from the official sources of the Abkhazian party and informal sources of the Georgian one, in 2009 in Gali District about 5000 persons received Abkhazian passports, and about 500 persons received Russian passports.

According to Mr Zakareishvili, Abkhazian passport are mandatory for state officials working in Abkhazia, including teachers. The teachers who will not receive Abkhazian passports may be sacked.

Apart from state servants, Abkhazian passports are a must for those who contact the Abkhazian authorities for whatever reason - selling a house or going to court, notary, doctor, etc. In these cases people cannot do without Abkhazian passports. Without local passports Georgians will not be admitted to elections. Other residents are not under pressure in this issue, as Paata Zakareishvili said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Despite the efforts of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, residents of the Gali District flatly refused to give their names and give comments on their problems. They are afraid of the problems that they may face either from the Abkhazian or from the Georgian party. People believe that they are now "between two fires". If they take Abkhazian passports, they have problems with Georgian authorities; if they don't, they are deprived of civil rights in their houses. Therefore, they prefer to sit silently and not to advertise themselves and their problems "for the sake of safety."