Georgia’s ruling party has responded to opposition criticism following reports of a 3,000-ton fuel shipment to Abkhazia. Rati Ionatamishvili, a member of "Georgian Dream," stated that the cargo was imported by a private business in compliance with Georgian law.
According to the MP, the opposition deliberately portrayed the shipment as an attempt to supply the Russian military. He linked the criticism to opposition resistance against the authorities' efforts to rebuild trust between Georgians and Abkhazians.
"Yesterday’s events—the coordinated attack by the radical opposition operating in our country on the attempt to restore Georgian-Abkhaz relations, and the hysteria they whipped up against reconciliation—demonstrated once again that until Georgia’s political landscape is cleansed of these agents who lack a homeland, the country will remain in a state of constant upheaval and political turbulence," Ionatamishvili declared.
He noted that the criticism stemmed from the import of several fuel tankers into Abkhazia, emphasizing that the total volume involved was 3,000 tons.
The MP stated that once news of the shipment emerged, the opposition began spreading a narrative claiming the fuel was intended for the Russian armed forces, attempting to portray Georgia as "virtually an accomplice to the war."
Ionatamishvili dismissed this narrative as absurd, citing the disparity in fuel consumption volumes. He pointed out that Russia consumes over 200 million tons annually, whereas the 3,000 tons sent to Abkhazia represented approximately 0.001% of Russia's total consumption.
"Isn't it ridiculous to suggest that these few tankers were intended to supply Russia? Of course, it is ridiculous," the MP stated. He also accused the opposition of acting on a political agenda, stating that they have no interest in restoring trust or achieving potential reconciliation with the Abkhaz side. In his view, opposing these processes could lead to a further deterioration of Georgian-Abkhaz relations and perpetuate the risk of renewed escalation.
Earlier, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili claimed that the fuel was not intended for Abkhazia but for Russia's southern regions. According to his account, fuel shortages had arisen there due to Ukrainian strikes, so the Georgian supplies were allegedly being routed onward to the Russian Federation. Saakashvili also linked the shipments to rising gasoline prices in Georgia.
