Bagapsh: Ethnic Georgians in Gali Can Only Be Abkhaz Citizens

Speaking to the news agency Regnum, de facto Abkhaz president Sergey Bagapsh said that the Gali region is a priority for his government  – the easternmost district of Abkhazia, populated predominantly by ethnic Georgians. Bagapsh said his administration “focuses its attention on the fight against crime, human rights and the employment of the local residents.”

He added, however, that “Gali residents should know – if they are citizens of Abkhazia, they should respect the laws of Abkhazia. At the same time, we see no problem with someone wanting to have Georgian citizenship. No problem – Georgia is not far, cross the little river and get Georgian citizenship [there].”