Tbilisi Mayor and General Secretary of "Georgian Dream" Kakha Kaladze responded to recent reports regarding the supply of fuel to temporarily occupied Abkhazia by a private company. Kaladze stated that the government's actions fall within the framework of the Law on Occupied Territories and serve to restore the country's territorial integrity.
According to him, any steps taken by the government are important for the country, whereas he dismissed the opposition's criticism as unpatriotic and hostile.
"In response to every step we take... we always hear hostile and anti-state statements from the opposition. They will try to hinder the restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity because they are stateless people... controlled from the outside, acting as foreign agents. As for us, we will always take steps that are important for our country," Kaladze stated.
He emphasized the importance of restoring relations between peoples, noting that the state is taking various measures to rebuild peaceful coexistence with Abkhazians.
"Whether it is medical assistance, support in terms of fuel supply, or other key issues, we will always take steps that are important for our country," he noted.
When asked about the specific private company involved, Kaladze replied that he did not possess detailed information. However, he added that business is free in the country, and the main thing is that its operations remain within legal boundaries. He also contrasted the current climate with the pre-2012 era, asserting that business terror and racketeering are a thing of the past.
By way of background, news broke on August 12 that fuel had entered occupied Abkhazia from territory controlled by Georgia's central government. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the fuel was not supplied by the state, but rather imported by a private business.
Giorgi Arveladze, owner of "Solidus," confirmed that his company imported the fuel. He cited the risk that otherwise, "40,000 Georgians would start crossing into Zugdidi with 20-liter jerrycans."
On August 13, the Government Administration stated that issuing a separate legal act was unnecessary, as the fuel was imported by a company holding "special enterprise status."
The procedure for granting this status was approved in 2019 under the Law on Occupied Territories. Under this rule, status is granted by the Revenue Service, authorizing companies to import goods into the occupied territory.
Furthermore, on August 11, 2026, the government extended "Solidus's" right to operate in the occupied territory for another three months, with the decree retroactively applying to legal relations arising from July 18, 2026.
