New Georgia-Russia transit terminal opens in Abkhazia amid political tensions
A new road transport terminal for transit shipments from Georgia to Russia is almost ready in Abkhazia's Gali district. The facility, owned by a private logistics firm, aims to handle goods moving between the two countries. Yet questions remain over how operations will work amid the unresolved Georgian-Abkhaz conflict.
The terminal is run by a private transit and logistics company, led by CEO Astamur Akhsalba. He confirmed the site will soon become operational but did not clarify how goods would be processed under the current political tensions. No official agreements between Georgia and Abkhazia on transit procedures have been publicly confirmed.
Transit through Abkhazia is governed by bilateral agreements covering routes, customs checks, security, fees, and dispute resolution. Payments for passage are made in cash or via bank transfer. Abkhaz publicist Tengiz Jopua has criticised the silence from Abkhazia's Customs Service and Ministry of Economy on the issue. He argues that if Georgia benefits from transit through the region, Abkhazia should also have the right to send and receive goods itself.
Jopua also noted that Georgia stands to gain financially from foreign trade passing through Abkhazia. Meanwhile, concerns persist that parallel imports—including sanctioned Western goods—could move through unofficial grey or black market channels.
The terminal's opening could reshape trade routes between Georgia and Russia. But without clear political agreements or public statements from Abkhaz authorities, uncertainties remain. The facility's operations will depend on how customs, security, and financial arrangements are managed in practice.
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