Author: Ani Zirakashvili

In Abkhazia, the first case of COVID-19 infection was reported on April 7, 2020. The next day, Abkhazia closed its “border” with Russia, however, the epidemiological situation soon worsened. On May 6, about a month later, the first case of COVID-19 infection was reported in the Tskhinvali region, although most educational institutions in the region had been closed since March 20, and the “borders” with Georgia and Russia were also closed on April 5. Due to the aggravated epidemiological situation and scarce medical resources, the de facto governments of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region appealed to the Russian Ministry of Defense for help. Following the appeal, the Ministry of Defense provided various types of assistance to the mentioned regions.

Abkhazia

Multi-Disciplinary Mobile Hospital

A multi-disciplinary mobile hospital sent by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation was first deployed in Abkhazia on October 20, 2020. The field hospital consisted of several departments and was equipped with the latest medical equipment. It accommodated 100 patients. A total of 113 experienced specialists treated patients infected with the severe coronavirus.

The multi-disciplinary mobile hospital was to complete its operation on January 18, 2021, however, at the request of the de facto Ministry of Defense, the hospital’s operation was continued until February 15. Later, the deadline was further extended. Finally, the hospital completed the work on March 1. In total, the hospital provided outpatient care and consultations to about 3,300 people and inpatient treatment to 450 patients.

The hospital was headed by Abdulmejid Magomedov. At the end of February 2021, Aleksey Dvinianin,  the Russian “Ambassador” to Abkhazia, awarded Mr. Magomedov a certificate of honor for his personal contribution to the fight against the coronavirus.

As announced on July 22, Russia would send another field hospital to Abkhazia. The multi-disciplinary mobile hospital arrived in Sokhumi on August 18 and started operation the next day. At this time, the hospital was designed to accommodate 100 patients and had the possibility of adding 50 beds, if necessary. It consisted of more than 100 military physicians and 30 units of special equipment. The field hospital completed its work on December 13, 2021, although, reportedly, it will return to Abkhazia in February 2022. This time, the hospital provided inpatient treatment to 649 patients and outpatient treatment and consultations to over 1500 people. It performed over 10,500 examinations, including more than 4,000 PCR tests.

Mobile Hospital. Source: structure.mil.ru

Disinfection Works

As early as 2020, Russia dispatched a unit of RCB (radiation, chemical, biological) protection specialists to prevent the spread of the virus in the de facto republic of Abkhazia. The specialists disinfected social infrastructure in Sokhumi. The unit consisted of 30 servicemen and eleven special vehicles.

The specialists carried out the next disinfection works in August. They disinfected social infrastructure facilities in Gudauta, Gagra, Sokhumi and other cities.

Vaccination

In 2021, the planned vaccination of military servicemen against the coronavirus began at the 7th Russian military base. Abkhazia received a batch of 500 doses of the Sputnik V, a two-component Russian vaccine. The vaccination was voluntary and was subject to written consent. The military servicemen received the second dose of the vaccine 21 days later.

On February 12, Russia sent an additional batch of 3,500 doses for military personnel in Abkhazia. On February 17, the de facto republic received another batch of 3,000 doses. The vaccination of servicemen ended at the 7th Russian military base in April 2021.

On June 29, another batch of the Russian vaccine - 1000 doses - was delivered to the base for recruits. After receiving both doses of the vaccine (on July 1 and July 21) the conscripts were given special certificates. At the same time, on July 7, the revaccination started for those who were vaccinated before January 1.

On November 16, Abkhazia received additional 6,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. Russia will send a total of 30,000 doses of the vaccine to the de facto republic.

Other Assistance

In August 2021, the “President” Aslan Bzhania was in active talks with an MP of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Adam Delimkhanov. As a result of the negotiations, Abkhazia received two ambulances for free from Russia in early September.

Tskhinvali Region

Multi-Disciplinary Mobile Hospital

A field hospital was deployed at the G. Tskhovrebov Stadium in Tskhinvali for the first time on October 27, 2020.  The hospital was designed to treat 150 patients infected with the coronavirus. There were up to 150 military medics at the hospital. The hospital was equipped with all the necessary medical equipment and had a PCR laboratory as well. The mobile hospital completed its work on December 17. The “President” Anatoly Bibilov awarded the military doctors with letters of gratitude and honorary diplomas. Marat Kulakhmetov, the Russian “Ambassador” to the Tskhinvali region, also attended the solemn event.

Disinfection

On October 28, 2020, the first unit of RCB protection specialists arrived in the region from Russia. The unit consisted of 130 military personnel and 37 units of special equipment. The military personnel disinfected educational and healthcare facilities such as schools, kindergartens, district hospitals, as well as buildings of the de facto government, etc. The specialists completed the disinfection work on December 8, 2020.

Preparation for the Disinfection. Source: structure.mil.ru

The disinfection work was resumed in April 2021. Military servicemen treated over 130 buildings of the 4th military base of the Russian Federation as well as its surrounding area with a special solution.

Vaccination

On January 14, 2021, the voluntary, planned vaccination of military servicemen with the Sputnik V Russian vaccine began at the 4th military base of the Russian Federation. Family members of the militants and the civilian staff of the base were being vaccinated at the same time. By the end of January, 80% of the staff were already vaccinated with the first dose.

On February 12, in addition to Abkhazia, the Tskhinvali region received another batch of 3,500 doses of the Russian vaccine. The vaccination of servicemen at Russia's 4th military base in the Tskhinvali region, like the 7th military base in Abkhazia, ended in April 2021. As of May, 90% of the 4th military base personnel were vaccinated with the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus.

Summary

In 2021, in Abkhazia, 29 thousand people were infected with the coronavirus, 433 of which died. A total of 7 thousand people received the Russian vaccines (Sputnik V and Sputnik Light) against the virus. Abkhazia spent RUB 800 million (approximately USD 10.1 million) in the fight against COVID-19.

According to the latest data, a total of 41,458 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in Abkhazia since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of recovered people totals 35,765, the dead - 590.

According to the latest data, in the Tskhinvali region, the total number of people infected with COVID-19 reaches 11,582, of which 10,430 patients recovered. More than 1,600 people received the Russian vaccine.