Last Updated: Friday, 25 May 2012, 13:06 GMT  
Title Georgians in Abkhazia to protest against Russian guards
Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Country Georgia | Russian Federation
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: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4bfcfb092.html [accessed 27 May 2012]
DisclaimerThis 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.

Georgians in Abkhazia to protest against Russian guards

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

Topics: Freedom of movement, Abkhazians,

Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036

Region maps Americas Africa Europe Asia Oceania
Page generated in 0.024 seconds