“If fuel was imported into occupied Abkhazia as a commercial rather than humanitarian shipment, and if it cleared so-called customs procedures at the so-called border—which is in reality an occupation line—this could be an alarming signal for our country’s territorial integrity and security.” This was how the opposition party “Gakharia – For Georgia” reacted to reports of fuel deliveries to Abkhazia.
According to party member Berdia Sichinava, the authorities must answer their opponents’ questions—specifically, whether this shipment was intended for critical infrastructure for humanitarian purposes or whether it was used for the critical infrastructure of the southern regions of the Russian Federation and the conduct of war.
“The issue should be divided into two parts. The main point is that the Law on Occupied Territories must not be violated. If the shipment was carried out for humanitarian purposes, there is nothing surprising about it. As you know, Georgia participates in more than one such humanitarian project: among other things, we fund medical treatment for our fellow Abkhaz citizens, and electricity from the Enguri Hydroelectric Power Station is received both by us and by our population living in the occupied territory. Therefore, there is nothing unusual here.
The main problem is that the process is being conducted in secret. We do not know what volume of fuel supplies is involved, which business entities were engaged, or under what procedures the fuel entered the territory of occupied Abkhazia.
Therefore, it is necessary to answer these questions: which specific business entities imported the cargo, whether this import was carried out for humanitarian purposes, what volume of cargo is involved, what procedures it underwent, and what its final destination is.”
Berdia Sichinava added that the authorities constantly claim that the ‘Deep State’ is trying to drag Georgia into war: “But isn’t Irakli Kobakhidze by any chance the very prime minister who is dragging Georgia into war—albeit on the side of the Russian Federation?”
Initially, media reports emerged stating that, amid a fuel crisis in Abkhazia, fuel had been delivered to the region from territory controlled by official Tbilisi. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze later confirmed this information, clarifying that the supply was carried out by private business rather than the government, but in accordance with legislation and all proper procedures. Nevertheless, part of the opposition expressed concern that the fuel delivered to Abkhazia might actually have been intended for Russia.