Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze confirmed on August 12 that fuel had been supplied to occupied Abkhazia by “business” from Georgia proper amid a continuing shortage that has prompted the region’s de facto authorities to impose restrictions and prioritize supplies for essential services.
The shortage comes as Russia, known to be Abkhazia’s supplier, has faced domestic fuel-supply pressure amid repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries and other disruptions affecting the sector. Local reports and social media posts have shown long lines at gas stations in the occupied region amid the shortage.
Asked at the press briefing by a TV Pirveli reporter about the reports that fuel had recently been transported into occupied Abkhazia from Tbilisi-controlled territory, Kobakhidze confirmed that the shipment indeed had taken place, but by a “business.”
“Yes, we did not supply it; the business did,” he replied, without specifying the company or the volume of the shipment.
Kobakhidze affirmed that such measures are allowed under Georgian legislation, including the Law on Occupied Territories, which regulates business activities with the occupied regions. “If we can ease the situation for the population living in Abkhazia, we will do so, but we will always do it within the framework of the Law on Occupied Territories,” he said. “Among other things, we have a program called ‘A Step to a Better Future,’ which is specifically intended to support the population living there — not only the Georgian population, but also the Abkhaz population.”
The comments followed reports earlier that day that fuel had crossed the Enguri Bridge, the main crossing point, into occupied territory.
On August 12, TV Pirveli cited Nukri Nodia, founder of the Movement for Abkhazia, as saying that fuel had been delivered across the bridge a day earlier. Nodia said it was unclear who had received the shipment and that information about the delivery had come from residents.
“Russia has always supplied Abkhazia with fuel, but as of today there is a fuel shortage in occupied Abkhazia,” Nodia said. “There is a severe crisis, and there are queues at gas stations.”
The reports and confirmation from Kobakhidze come amid weeks-long concerns in the region about fuel shortages, including de facto authorities promising to handle the situation while social media channels show long lines near gas stations and share with each other the availability of supplies at gas stations.
On August 10, occupied Abkhazia’s de facto leader Badra Gunba convened a meeting on fuel supplies attended by other de facto officials.
Local outlet Apsnypress cited Gunba as saying during the meeting that disruptions to fuel supplies were caused by “circumstances” beyond Sokhumi’s control and that the de facto authorities were “doing everything possible to normalize the situation as soon as possible.”
Gunba also ordered that existing supplies be prioritized for security and law enforcement agencies, as well as medical, social, and municipal services.
Signs of supply problems in occupied Abkhazia emerged in July. On July 30, the de facto authorities said 414 tons of gasoline had arrived in Abkhazia and described shortages at some gas stations as temporary, according to Apsnypress.
By August 4, however, the de facto authorities were still reporting disruptions, attributed to logistical difficulties in Russia. Apsnypress cited local de facto officials as saying that restrictions on gasoline sales were temporary and intended to preserve existing reserves while making fuel available to as many consumers as possible.
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