Georgia strongly objects to restoration of Sukhumi-Sochi railroad

The restoration of railroad transportation between Sukhumi (Abkhazia) and Sochi (Russia) violates sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, Georgian Minister for Emergency Assignments Malkhaz Kakabadze declared in an interview with journalists today.

The railroad between Sukhumi and Sochi was closed ten years ago as a result of an escalation in the Georgian-Abkhaz military conflict. The CIS countries made a decision then to impose economic sanctions against Abkhazia, including the decision to cancel railroad transportation between Abkhazia and Russia. According to the Minister, these sanctions turned out to be a fiction, as railroad transportation resumed on December 25 and will become regular beginning next week.

According to the Russian Railroad Ministry, the railroad has been opened on an initiative of Abkhazia.