Georgia denies opening of customs posts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

The procedures for the enforcement of the Georgian-Russian trade agreement have been completed. The agreement is forcing Georgia to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent customs territories, Grigory Karasin, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2011, Russia and Georgia signed an agreement on customs monitoring of trade. In January 2018, Tbilisi opposed the opening of customs posts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The agreement provides for the use of the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for trade and transit of goods, the "Kommersant" writes.

Georgia is not going to set up any customs posts on the dividing lines with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, said Zurab Abashidze, the special representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia.

According to the representative, the agreement "has blurred the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which may seem like a radical measure."

According to David Darchiashvili, a MP from the oppositional "European Georgia" Party, the agreement can be dangerous for Georgia in terms of Russia's possible demand from Georgia to abandon its European integration.

The main reason that prompted Russia to fulfil the agreement is an attempt to maintain friendship with Armenia, said Giorgi Khukhashvili, an economist.

Mr Darchiashvili also believes that Nikol Pashinyan is more oriented towards the West, while Russia is trying to keep Armenia. According to his story, there are fears that military cargos may go from Russia to Armenia via Georgia.