Political analysts state reliability of new Russian-Georgian trade corridors

Abkhazia and South Ossetia will not be able to hamper the opening of transport corridors connecting Georgia and Russia and crossing their territories; only the position of official Moscow matters, said the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 9, 2011, Russia and Georgia signed a bilateral agreement allowing the two countries to develop their trade, economic and transport relations via Abkhazia and South Ossetia, without touching on the issue of the status of these territories. On May 24, 2018, at a regular round of talks, an agreement was reached to set up a working group to implement the agreement.

Should the Russian party wish, it can persuade Abkhazia and South Ossetia to ensure the proper functioning of the above transport corridors, Tornike Sharashenidze, an expert of the International Centre for Geopolitical Studies, is sure.

"I don't think that there can be any acts of sabotage... Who will commit them? Neither Abkhazians nor Ossetians have means or wish to do it, since the territories are controlled by Russia; and there's no doubt that it can ensure due order in them," Mr Sharashenidze told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The actual leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have expressed, I would say, their irritation and displeasure that they had not been asked. However, Russia plays the main role in this matter, which should ensure the actual functioning of these corridors. The concluded agreement should not only be respected, but also ensured by these parties," said Irakli Menagarishvili, an expert from the Centre for Strategic Studies.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.