Sukhumi Reinforces Coast Guard

(Tbilisi, August 7, 2003, Civil Georgia) – De facto Defense Minister of breakaway Abkhazia Vyacheslav Eshba warned that the Georgian authorities’ attempts to block the passage of Abkhaz military and commercial vessels might lead to armed clash in the Black Sea.

As the Russian news agency Interfax reports quoting Eshba Abkhaz side is actively reinforcing its coast guard installing weapons on civilian vessels.

“This is a response to the Georgian side’s intensified activities in the Black Sea. Georgian warships tried to advance in the direction!
of Ochamchire,” Eshba said.

The de facto Defense Minister also condemned Georgia’s intention to open the operative command center for its coast guard service in Poti with the US financial support.

Commander of the Georgian Border Guard Department Valeri Chkheidze said on July 29 that the Georgian coast guard service controls the entire sea border and “will seize the ships bound for Abkhazia.”

Ferry traffic was restored between Sukhumi and Sochi in late July, causing the protest of the Georgian side.

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