07 July 2004, 21:17
Abkhazian authorities deny Georgian bus transit arrangements
The information published by the media that "the drivers of regular (Georgian) busses have reached an agreement with the Abkhazian government on transit of passenger busses through Abkhazia to the Russian Federation," has been called sheer fiction by Timur Abgaj, deputy director of the Abkhaztrans state-run company. "This is the first time I've heard about it," Timur Abgaj told Caucasian Knot's correspondent. Abkhazia's Ministry of Economy has also resolutely denied this information saying that Abkhazia and Georgia have not yet settled their relations to allow Georgian drivers to use Abkhazia's territory for transit.
It was previously reported that the drivers of some Georgian busses making regular trips from Zugdidi to Russia and other CIS countries had conducted an action demanding that traffic to Russia should be allowed through Abkhazia's territory. Participants in the action said the situation in the North Caucasus was strained and they had no opportunity to make trips through Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, Russia. The drivers assured they had reached a verbal agreement with the authorities of the unacknowledged republic about transit through Abkhazia's territory.
Source: Caucasian Knot
