Security in Abkhazia, the Soviets

Security in Abkhazia, crime

Despite the difficult political situation around Abkhazia and the still-ongoing armed conflict with Georgia in 1992-93, the situation in the country is calm. Protection of borders from Georgia is carried out jointly by Abkhazian and Russian troops. The local population is very friendly to tourists from any country, and especially from Russia, and today vacationers in Abkhazia are most threatened by ordinary petty crimes such as fraud, pickpocketing, theft from rooms and cars. The level of such petty crimes here is not higher than in any other resort place, for example in Sochi, so the usual precautions and care will help to avoid loss of property. According to statistics, the largest number of crimes against tourists is committed in the large resorts of Gagra and Sukhum in the high season in summer.

As for especially serious crimes, such as robbery, robbery, rape and murder, they happen very rarely. But for the sake of justice and so that you do not think that there is nothing to fear in Abkhazia, it is worth noting that sometimes tourists become victims of serious criminals. So, in October 2016, a car with tourists from Russia was fired from machine guns on a country road, and by a happy coincidence no one was killed. And in July 2017, a family from Russia on the beach was subjected to an armed robbery, as a result of which a man died.

The most common problem faced by all tourists without exception is attempts to "divorce" all kinds of services and goods at inflated prices. So, visits to honey apiaries and wineries included in almost every group tour are nothing more than a common deception of consumers. At the tasting, tourists are shown one product, but in reality they sell a fake. Remember: in Abkhazia there are not so many bees and grapes to sell so much honey and wine to tourists. Most of the products are fake. In addition, the price of honey is several times higher than in Russia.

Separately, it is worth mentioning about independent trips of women in Abkhazia. While generally safe, one should be prepared for constant and sometimes cavalier attention from local men. Not to say that this can lead to serious problems, but pestering at every step over time begins to "strain" very much.

Tips to avoid trouble

Do not deceive yourself and consider that guests from other countries are appreciated and loved here in any form. A tourist in Abkhazia is most often interesting only as long as he has money, and he is ready to spend it. Therefore, do not be surprised that the owner of the House, who is friendly at the first meeting, will not be so friendly after receiving the money. Here are some tips to help you :

• Do not give all the money for housing or other services at once, it is better to give in parts until the last day of your stay.
• Try to make friends with someone from the local population, for example, with the owners of the house in which you live. The mentality in Abkhazia is that your friends will always help you, so if you get into trouble, there will be someone to turn to for real help.
• Do not behave arrogantly and go into conflict with the locals for nothing. Abkhazians are a proud people, their character is hot, so a small conflict can turn into a major brawl.
• Carefully check the checks and calculations in stores, restaurants, etc., postscript of several hundred rubles to tourists is the norm here.
• Never leave the car unattended with things even for a very short time. After all, even if the things in the car are not of great value, thieves cannot know this, and will damage the car to steal them.
• Do not go outside the beach in swimsuits. This not only causes dissatisfaction with local residents, but also is a violation.

Health, Medicine

Medicine in Abkhazia is conditionally free, including primary emergency care for foreign citizens. However, for most even free procedures will have to pay extra in the pocket of doctors. Well, serious medical care is paid, so it's best to have an insurance policy just in case, because the Russian policy does not work here. The level of medicine here is lower than in Russia, but in general, initial emergency care is provided at a normal level.

Pharmacies in Abkhazia can be found without problems, the range of medicines in them is the same as in the Russian Federation, except that the prices are higher. In any case, a tourist First Aid Kit wouldn't hurt (see details, what to collect in the tourist's first aid kit).

To do any vaccinations for entry into Abkhazia is not required.

As for drinking water, despite the assurances of local residents and authorities that water can be drunk from the tap, we would not recommend it, at least not without boiling. And it is better to use purchased bottled water. Often tourists complain of infection with rotavirus infection, and I write it off as the use of raw tap water, and to catch such a virus on vacation is not pleasant.

Another danger with infection or intestinal poisoning is associated with swimming in the sea. In peak season, whole epidemics are not uncommon, and it is believed that this is due to sewage emissions into the sea. Therefore, when bathing, try not to swallow seawater, especially in places where local rivers or streams flow into the sea, because they may not be the most drains. And, of course, do not forget about the most basic rules of food hygiene: wash hands with soap before eating; wash food before use; do not drink raw water from unproven natural sources; do not eat food from trays and peddlers.

Road safety

The situation on the roads of Abkhazia is very different from the Russian Federation. Local drivers do not always comply with traffic rules, and violate the rules right under the nose of local traffic police inspectors. As a result, tourists have the erroneous feeling that everyone can ride like this, but this is not the case. Local traffic policemen do not pay attention to local drivers, because their main earnings in the holiday season are focused on tourists. This is a big problem for Russian motorists, who are already a little unaccustomed to the fact that they can "nightmare" traffic inspectors, and on Business and without business. Even the head of the Ministry of internal affairs of Abkhazia in 2016 forbade his subordinates to stop cars with foreign numbers without a reason, but the problem remained. Therefore, be careful and careful, do not succumb to the temptation to violate traffic rules, looking at the locals. And be sure to use the DVR.

In case of any violation of traffic rules in Abkhazia, the withdrawal of Rights is provided. You can return them only after paying a fine, and you can do this only in the traffic police of the area (there are no payments of fines through the bank or the Internet), where you committed a violation, and the rights are returned there. During the rest, this is a big waste of time, this is what the inspectors use, offering to solve the issue on the spot.

Sometimes traffic inspectors directly "breed" tourists for non-existent violations, for example: speeding on the radar with another car; violation of the sign, which in fact does not exist. Therefore, be careful and double-check the violations that are imputed to you, even to the point that you go back and check for fines.

And yet, keep in mind that in Abkhazia, violation of the speed limit is punished for exceeding more than 10 km/h, and not 20, as in our country. ie, where the maximum speed is 60 km/h, you can not go above 70, otherwise you will get 600-1800 rubles. Management in the NA or transfer to a person in the NA is punished severely.

Another danger for drivers is the high probability of getting into an accident, all because of the same driving style of the locals. But what is bad, even if you are right in the accident, the chances of getting compensation are negligible, because the insurance of Russian companies does not work here. Therefore, the advice: if you are right in an accident, do not succumb to persuasion to do without calling the traffic police and solve everything amicably, otherwise you will not see money for repairs.

As for pedestrians, they should be more careful. Again, for the reason that local drivers do not particularly follow the rules, and there are very few regulated crossings with traffic lights, be very careful when crossing the road. Before going out on the road, be sure to look in both directions, because movement in the oncoming lane is not uncommon.

Emergency numbers in Abkhazia

• Firefighters, police and ambulance from City phones of any locality: "01", "02", "03"
• Duty station of the Ministry of internal affairs of Abkhazia in Sukhum: roaming: +7 (840) 226-41-41, + 7 (840) 226-14-38, from the city phone or on the map of local mobile operators: 226-41-41 or 226-14-38
• The duty part of the Gagra Police Department: roaming: +7 (840) 234-11-71, from the city phone or on the map of local mobile operators: 234-11-71
• Hotlines of the Ministry of internal affairs of Abkhazia: + 7 (840) 229-72-73, + 7 (840) 229-73-00 Sukhum Department of internal affairs, +7 (840) 234-22-41 Gagra Department of internal affairs, + 7 (840) 229-74-30 Minister of internal affairs of Abkhazia
• Ministry of emergency situations of Abkhazia: +7 (840) 226-30-49 (roaming), using local mobile operators or landlines-911 or 912