Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov responded to the question of what prevents the construction of a highway from Itum-Kale (Chechnya) to Shatili (Georgia), which would facilitate transport, trade, and communication between Russia and Georgia, and establish connections with foreign countries.
News
“In reality, Georgia turned out to be unfriendly to us, even though we signed the documents and did everything. Unfortunately, our neighbours still do not want the road to pass through Georgia,” said Ramzan Kadyrov.
The need to build a highway linking Chechnya with Georgia was discussed by the Chairman of the Chechen Government, Muslim Khuchiev, during a meeting in Grozny on 15 March 2022. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Nikolai Patrushev. Khuchiev noted that the 41.2-kilometre-long Itum-Kale-Arghun border post at the Georgian border is of “great strategic importance for the Russian Federation” and may become an alternative to Upper Larsi. He urged Patrushev to pay attention to this matter.
The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia stated at the time that Georgia has never considered, and will not consider, building any road linking it to Chechnya.
The Chechen authorities began building a road from Itum-Kale to Shatili in 1997. Within two years, the road was extended to the Anator settlement near Shatili. In 1999, work was halted at the request of the Georgian authorities. In the same year, following the start of the Second Russian-Chechen War, almost half of the 8,000 refugees who entered Georgia from Chechnya used this newly built road.
More about this topic:
What we (do not) know on the Georgia-Chechnya road and how 1000 hectares came under Russian control
