When tourists return from Abkhazia, they will take a PCR test for COVID-19. Only residents of the Krasnodar Territory were exempted from the test, the press service of the association of tour operators reported on April 20.
“The decree of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation of 04/09/2021 No. 12 obliges Russians returning from Abkhazia to take a PCR test for coronavirus and, in anticipation of its result, go into self-isolation for three days,” the association’s website says.
All citizens of the Russian Federation who arrive in Abkhazia, upon their return, will have to fill out a questionnaire on the State Services, within three days do a PCR test for coronavirus, and also observe isolation until the results are obtained. The result will need to be uploaded to the State Services portal in electronic form. For non-compliance with the requirements, the Russians face fines.
Upon returning from Abkhazia, only members of vehicle crews, as well as some categories of citizens of these countries themselves, are exempted from taking tests for COVID-19, but subject to short-term visits and work in the Russian Federation, study. Residents of the Krasnodar Territory were also exempted from the test.
“Citizens of the Russian Federation who are registered in the Krasnodar Territory and who have visited Abkhazia and citizens living in Abkhazia who come to work, study or on other short-term matters do not need to fill out a questionnaire and undergo testing,” the press service of Rospotrebnadzor said.
The Abkhaz authorities said on April 16 that Russian citizens will be able to cross the border with Abkhazia without taking a coronavirus test. The country’s government relied on a new decree of the chief sanitary doctor of Russia signed on April 9, which did not indicate the need for a procedure when entering Abkhazia.