The Office of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality works around the clock regime from the moment of the closure of Enguri Bridge the so-called checkpoint in order to return the population of the occupied territory the opportunity of freely movement.

Via different channels, including the direct contacts, we make it possible that every person who needs medical assistance, pensioners and most of the entrants, are on the territory, controlled by the Government of Georgia. But there were cases when a part of young people went through the hardest way to overcome Russian barriers.

With all of them, including the injured young person, the Office of the State Minister, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education have direct communication and, if necessary, the state will provide them all kinds of assistance. Besides, due to the active communication with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, the entrants from the occupied Abkhazia were allowed to join the examination process.

By this time 172 entrants from 185, which are from occupied Abkhazia, are on the territory controlled by the Government of Georgia and are participating in the examination process.

We also want to underline that within the framework of the peace initiative “A Step to a Better Future” that neither of the young people from the occupied regions will stay without higher education. A special educational program is already working for them and they have an opportunity to study freely in Zugdidi and Tbilisi training centers. They are also provided with free accommodation and 150 GEL scholarship.

All those young people, who are studying or will study in these centers will be enrolled in higher education institutions without entrance exams. The State continues to work in order to allow the residents of the occupied regions to move freely. This issue will be discussed at the 48th round of the Geneva International Discussions.