Kishmariya: restart of Tbilisi-Sukhumi bus communication still at a distant date

The issue of opening the Tbilisi-Sukhumi bus route is not considered by Abkhazia and will hardly be considered in the immediate perspective. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by Ruslan Kishmariya, plenipotentiary representative of Abkhazian President in the Gali District, who made his comments on Georgia's intention to offer Abkhazia to start such bus route.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that that Georgia would like to start the Tbilisi-Sukhumi bus route with the aim to ensure Georgians' access to religious relics and tombs of their relatives in Abkhazia. This was stated by Timur Yakobashvili, State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration.

"It's no harm in wanting, but we'll not have any bus communication between Tbilisi and Sukhumi still for long. How can Abkhazia have a bus route with Georgia, a hostile country, which tries all the time to destabilize the situation both on the border and at sea?" asked Mr Kishmariya, making comments on the Yakobashvili's initiative.

According to his version, any direct transport communication between Abkhazia and Georgia is completely excluded until the latter recognizes the independence of the former.

Today, according to Ruslan Kishmariya, crossing the Abkhazian-Georgian border is possible only by the main Inguri Bridge with a special permit; all other crossings are illegal.