Forget your way back to Abkhazia!

Forget your way back to Abkhazia!


We drove to a point we were not supposed to. It was on the Enguri bridge. We were three of us one US citizen, on Georgian citizen and me. We passed by Georgian checkpoints and entered the territory controlled by Abkhaz without knowing it. We were supposed to leave the US citizen, lets name him Nick, at the checkpoint, so that he would continue his way to Abkhazia and we would return back to Zugdidi. When I talk of checkpoint, I mean a point where Abkhazian officers check the documentation of those who travel to and forth. This checkpoint on the Enguri river is the only official gate between Georgia and Abkhazia. Though, Bagapsh, in his visit to Gali region within an election campaign pledged to establish 5 more official gates.

We approached this gate. The first reaction of Abkhaz, standing there, was confusion as it was a car with Georgian numbers approaching. One Abkhaz officer came closer demanded our documents. We were told that we illegally crossed the “state border.” We tried to explain the situation, meanwhile, everybody around was looking at us in horror. We, with Georgian numbers, were most unwelcome guests there.

On the other side of the checkpoint, we saw a group of people, most probably Gali residents, who were waiting to be allowed to cross to the Georgian proper. They were mainly women and elderly. Abkhaz officers were rudely shouting at them: Shut up now, or you will have to go back home.

After explaining the situation, he took Nick and Giorgi’s (not a real name for the Georgian citizen) documents and lead us to a room where documents were checked. We saw two other officers there, both of them around 40. They checked Nick’s documents and as he had it all right, asked him to leave the room. What shocked me was a dialogue between Giorgi, himself an IDP from Abkhazia and Abkhaz officers.

- So, your name and surname: Giorgi Korkia (invented name)
- So your ID card says you are born in Sukhumi: Yes I am
- Where do you live now? In Tbilisi, in a hotel.
- Where did you live in Sukhumi? Close to the University
- Which school did you go? School no 1.
- Where is your family now? In Tbilisi, I live together with my parents in a hotel.
- You know you crossed the state border illegally? No I did not know, just wanted to leave the foreigner.
- Well, you did so, we will solve the issue now….- and he started to call…he was never responded. Meanwhile, he got angrier
- What about the car? – The car belongs to an organization where this foreigner works.
- What about this girl? Pointing at me. – She is his colleague…
- Well, we could solve this problem right now, but, you’d better disappear from here as soon as possible. - he said after writing down all the details of his identity card. Then he rudely threw documents back to Giorgi - And, forget your way back to Abkhazia Giorgi Korkia….

The atmosphere during this dialogue was very hostile. Faces of Abkhazian officers expressed nothing but a disgust and anger. Giorgi tried to be calm, if that was even possible.

Officer never asked me any question, most probably because I was a woman and they could not figure out my nationality.

We left the area quickly. Giorgi was speechless for some time.
- did you see how they treated me? He said finally- if only you know what I, with my family, had to go through when we were kicked out…. – he was shaking out of the humiliation.