Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has confirmed that fuel was supplied to Russian-occupied Abkhazia from Georgian-controlled territory, saying the shipment was made by a private business rather than the government.
“We did not send it in; a business did,” Kobakhidze said in response to a question from TV Pirveli.
He said Georgia’s existing legal framework, including the Law on Occupied Territories, allows such transactions under certain circumstances.
“In general, our current legal framework, including the Law on Occupied Territories, permits such actions. If any such step has been or will be taken, every such step will be taken within the framework of the Law on Occupied Territories,” Kobakhidze said.
Abkhazia has faced renewed fuel supply problems in recent days. The region’s de facto authorities say fuel deliveries from Russia are continuing and that there is currently no risk of existing reserves being completely depleted.
On August 10, Abkhazia’s de facto president, Badra Gunba, held a meeting to discuss fuel supplies to the region.
Gunba said the current situation was caused by circumstances “beyond the republic’s control,” adding that the de facto authorities were taking all necessary measures to normalize the situation.
