Georgia demands from South Ossetia to let Akhalgori residents for treatment

South-Ossetian authorities should let the Akhalgori residents who need medical care to the territory controlled by the Georgian authorities for treatment, said Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that residents of the border village of Akhalgori are experiencing problems with foodstuffs and drugs after South Ossetia closed the "Razdakhan" checkpoint in September 2019.

Ms Tsikhelashvili has stated that the authorities of South Ossetia violate the fundamental rights of Akhalgori villagers by not letting them to be treated in the Georgian territory, the "Georgia Online" reported on April 15.

"The situation in the Tskhinvali region is becoming extremely alarming," the "Georgia Online" quotes Minister Tsikhelashvili as saying.

According to the minister, after the closure of the checkpoint in Akhalgori on September 4, 2019, 13 residents of the region died.

People need access to critical medical services, and they, according to Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, are not given such an opportunity, since the region has been isolated for several months, the "News-Georgia" reported on April 15.

The minister called on all the decision makers in South Ossetia not to interfere with local residents who are in dire need of help.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 16, 2020 at 07:13 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.