Fuel shipments from the Tbilisi-controlled part of Georgia to Abkhazia have sparked a new political conflict in the country. The opposition believes that Moscow and the ruling "Georgian Dream" party are behind the gasoline shipment. Authorities, however, insist that the fuel was supplied by private business and that the trade itself does not violate Georgian law.

Elene Khoshtaria, a Georgian opposition leader currently in prison, has labeled the incident "treason." She argues that this was not a matter of humanitarian aid for Abkhaz residents facing fuel shortages, but rather the execution of a Russian directive.

"This was a Russian special operation carried out jointly with 'Georgian Dream,' and it constitutes high treason," Khoshtaria wrote in a letter from prison.

The politician bases her position on the fact that shipping a large consignment of fuel to Abkhazia without the knowledge of Georgian authorities is impossible. Even small shipments heading toward the occupation line, she asserts, undergo inspections and require prior approval from the State Security Service.

"How do you picture it? A business with 300—let alone 3,000—tons of gasoline pulls up to the occupation line; the Georgian side lets them through, saying, 'Oh, how kind of you,' and then the Russians greet them with applause?" she writes.

Khoshtaria believes that the Russian military forces controlling Abkhazia would inevitably have known about the movement of such a large volume of fuel. She therefore rejects the theory that this was an independent humanitarian initiative by a private business.

According to the opposition figure, the shipment was "the direct execution of yet another Russian assignment at the expense of trampling upon our state's territorial integrity."

The dispute was triggered by reports of fuel shortages in Abkhazia. Against this backdrop, the opposition United National Movement party reported shipments of gasoline to the region from territory controlled by Tbilisi.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze confirmed that such shipments had taken place but emphasized that they were carried out by private businesses, not the state.

"In general, the existing legal framework permits this, including the Law on Occupied Territories," Kobakhidze stated.

He added that any such activities must be conducted strictly within the confines of that law.

Georgian Dream MP Rati Ionatamishvili specified that the shipments involved approximately 3,000 tons of fuel. He emphasized, however, that this volume was negligible compared to Russia's total consumption—amounting to about 0.001%.

Khoshtaria, meanwhile, urged the opposition not to limit itself to public criticism. She proposed holding a "large-scale anti-occupation protest" in the autumn, which, she said, would demonstrate to Russia and the world that Georgia has no intention of accepting the occupation.

"No matter what laws are passed, Georgia does not intend to accept the occupation and will continue the fight against the regime to the very end," she declared.