Bagapsh Demands ‘Strict Control’ on Entry into Abkhazia

Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh instructed security officials of the unrecognized republic to eradicate incidents of “the illegal entry and presence of foreign citizens, including Georgians” into Abkhazia, Apsnypress news agency reported on August 29. 

Sergey Bagapsh was speaking at a meeting with the law enforcement officials with the participation of Vice-President Raul Khajimba and Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab.

Sergey Bagapsh said that ethnic Georgians, mainly internally displaced persons, are entering and residing in Abkhazia with falsified entry permits issued by the Abkhaz security service. He said that in some cases these entry permits are illegally sold to the Georgians.

He said that “strict control” on granting entry permits should be imposed. “We are not going to tolerate the existing situation,” Bagapsh added.

The Abkhaz leader also instructed the security service to check entry permits which have already been issued to those persons who currently reside in Abkhazia.

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