The construction of a “transit hub” at the so-called Enguri checkpoint in the Gali region has now been completed. According to the so-called state television and radio company of Russian-occupied Abkhazia, the project was kept secret for a long time due to the complicated geopolitical situation.
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The state television reports that this joint Abkhaz-Russian project does not involve trade with Georgia. Instead, it aims to expand trade opportunities, with potential participants including India, Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and other countries.
In an interview with the TV channel, Astamur Akhsalba, the CEO of the transit and logistics firm, mentioned that the project has been ongoing for six years.
“Why have we been busy with this for six years? [...] We studied everything, conducted test runs. We transported the cargo through Abkhazia to the Russian Federation. The authorised bodies, customs, the State Security Service, the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia, carried out all the necessary work, and yes, the goods arrived at the destination. We also had cargo on the way back, sending goods from Abkhazia to Iran, “ said Akhsalba.
The Gali district "transit hub" will be connected to the railway terminal in Ochamchire. Astamur Akhsalba says that containers will be unloaded there and then sent by rail to Russia.
"It will be the other way around - the train will arrive, it will be unloaded in Ochamchire, the cargo will be delivered to the terminal using our vehicles, and it will be shipped from there,“ said Akhsalba.
The construction of the border hub is being carried out under an agreement signed in 2021 between the Russian and Abkhaz customs authorities. According to the TV company, the provisions of the agreement have not been fulfilled until now “due to several security-related reasons, taking into account the neighbourhood with Georgia.”
“It is impossible to talk about trade between Georgia and Abkhazia until some documents are signed. Our company is only a logistics company that transports goods through the territories. These are cargo shipments from the Russian Federation and third countries.
Opening this hub is a step forward. The second step is to attempt to bring Abkhazian products to a third country. For example, I believe Iran will not object to the sale of Abkhazian products on Iranian territory. We should seize this opportunity,“ said Astamur Akhsalba.
The hub is scheduled to open in six months. Akhsalba told Russian state-run Sputnik that the terminal only requires scanners and other cargo inspection equipment to be installed.
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze responded to this issue today, December 10, after a journalist asked him to state his position. He called the spread information speculation.
“We do not recognise any so-called state border; this is a complete lie. There can be no talk of this from our side.
Under the previous government, an agreement was signed allowing Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation. At that time, an agreement was made that, with Switzerland’s mediation, a mechanism for cargo transit would be established; however, since then, this issue has been stalled, and we have not taken any steps in this regard.
Therefore, all of this is speculation. The law on occupied territories remains in force, and the government has taken no initiative in this regard,” Kobakhidze stated.
When asked how a terminal could have been built in Gali without Tbilisi’s position, the Prime Minister from Georgian Dream said that he “does not know”: “I repeat once again, we have not taken any steps in this direction. There is a general agreement, but even in this regard, there has been no activity. This is the position we have. If there are any changes, of course, you will hear it from us.”
When asked whether he confirms that the “Georgian Dream” government will not allow cargo transit for Russia, Irakli Kobakhidze replied: “I confirm that we will not allow it.”
