Georgians in Abkhazia to protest against Russian guards
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 3 April 2010 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Georgians in Abkhazia to protest against Russian guards, 3 April 2010, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4bfcfb092.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 03, 2010
ZUGDIDI, Georgia – Georgians in the southern-most district of the breakaway region of Abkhazia are planning a protest against arbitrary restrictions on crossings of the Inguri River that marks the border with the rest of Georgia, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reports.
Residents of the village of Otobaia say they wrote to Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh to complain about the intimidating behavior of Russian border guards, but have received no reply.
They say they will stage a peaceful demonstration early next week to demand "a narrow access path" across the border so they don't need to travel to the single official border crossing between Abkhazia and Georgia proper.
A woman from Otobaia said that since there was no public transport from the village to the Abkhaz town of Gali, it was easier to travel to Zugdidi in western Georgia to buy food and other basic necessities.
She said when Abkhaz border guards were stationed along the border they allowed Georgians to cross freely, whereas the Russian border guards greatly restrict border crossings.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
