Russia Slams Georgia for Opening Fire on Turkish Vessel

The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted with a statement to opening of fire by the Georgian coast guard on a Turkish vessel en route to Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia.

“This is not the first case when the Georgian coast guard has opened fire at foreign ships en-route to Abkhazia. Of course such facts cause concerns. We hope the Georgian side will refrain from further escalating tension in the conflict zone and will discuss all the problems at the table of negotiations,” reads a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on August 2.

Abkhaz de facto authorities suspended all negotiations over conflict resolution with the Georgian side, following the incident. They also stated readiness to sink all Georgian vessels in “Abkhazia’s territorial waters.”

The Georgian dismisses all the accusations as “groundless.” According to the current regulations all vessels bound to Abkhazia’s port of Sukhumi have to pass customs clearance at the port of Poti. Authorities explain, these measures are aimed at curbing drugs and arms trafficking. In several cases, Georgian coast guard detained and impounded the ships sailing under Turkish and other flags.