Georgian Coast Guard Seized Ship in Abkhazia for Illegal Fishing

The Georgian coast guard service seized on February 12 a ship, which was sailing in Georgia’s territorial waters in breakaway Abkhazia under the Russian flag.  
 
“Georgian border guards had to open fire, but there are no casualties,” Davit Gulua, deputy chairman of the Georgian State Border Guard Department and head of the Coast Guard Service, said on February 13.

Officials say the ship was detained for illegal fishing in the Georgian territorial waters.

The Abkhaz de facto authorities have already raised concern over the incident, saying that Georgia has violated the 1994 Moscow agreement on ceasefire between the conflicting sides.
 
Commander of the Georgia coast guard said that Georgia would continue conducting operations, aimed at preventing foreign vessels from sailing into the Abkhaz section of Georgia’s territorial waters.