Russia Halts Rail Link with Abkhazia
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| Moscow-Sokhumi railway was reopened through active involvement by the state-run Russian Railway Company. |
Both of these measures are viewed as a mounting of pressure by Russia on the eve of the presidential inauguration of opposition leader Sergey Bagapsh, which is scheduled for December 6.
However, Bagapsh shows no signs of giving up his plans to take over the breakaway region’s presidency.
“These kinds of actions only trigger more tensions in the republic. Nevertheless, despite such pressure, we are not going to even slightly change our plans over the scheduled presidential inauguration,” Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta quotes Sergey Bagapsh on December 2.
Assistant to the Prime Minister of Russia Gennady Bukaev said on December 1 that Russia is closing it railway communication with Abkhazia, starting on December 2.
“I think that Abkhaz television will broadcast the statement by Gennady Bukaev [Assistant to the Prime Minister of Russia]. Let the people know who is in fact destabilizing situation in Abkhazia,” the Russian daily Kommersant also quoted Sergey Bagapsh as saying on December 1.
However Bagapsh added that the statements by particular Russian officials “will not affect the positive relations between the Abkhaz and Russian people.”
The railway communication between Moscow and Sokhumi, capital of breakaway region, was restored by Russia on September 10, less than a month before the October 3 presidential elections in Abkhazia.
The Georgian side has strongly protested against Russia’s this unilateral move and described it as a violation of Georgia’s sovereignty.
On the eve of the elections, Russia’s decision to reopen rail link was widely viewed as further support of pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba, who had held previously held the position of Prime Minister of Abkhazia. Khajimba has recieved strong supoport durin his presidency bid from both outgoing Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba as well as the Kremlin.
The decision by Moscow to close the railway link triggered surprise from some Russian parliamentarians.
Andrey Loginov, the Russian government’s representative to the Duma Council, which is the lower house of the Russian Parliament, had to explain to other MPs the reasons behind this decision at the parliamentary session on December 2.
RIA Novosti news agency reported quoting Loginov that the situation in Abkhazia, which “has extremely deteriorated,” poses a threat to Russia’s North Caucasus railway.
“This [closure of the rail link] is a temporary measure,” Loginov said, adding that the measure aims at protection of Russian citizens.
In addition to closing the railway, Russia has also banned the import of agricultural products from Abkhazia. Russian news agencies reported that officials cite “sanitary concerns” as the reason behind this decision.
Exports of agricultural products, mainly tangerines and oranges, and cross-border trade with Russia represent the foundation of the current Abkhaz economy and livelihood of most local inhabitants.