Economic interests subordinated to political ambitions – opinions on Abkhazian railway project

The new Georgian authorities, unlike former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration, are willing to offer a realistic solution to the controversial Abkhazian railway project, a lawmaker from Georgia’s Armenian populated region of Jabakh said, commenting on President Giorgi Margvelashvili’s call for a dialogue with Russia.

“While under the former government, it was absolutely pointless to address the topic, the mutual statements made on the level of high-ranking officials now allow for optimism in terms of bringing the Abkhazian railway issue to the negotiations’ agenda,” Shirak Torosyan of the ruling Republican faction in parliament told Tert.am.

According to him, the Georgian leader’s statement falls within the logic of the country’s new policies towards Russia.

Torosyan noted that statements of the kind are very frequently made by the Georgian authorities despite the fact that the country also simultaneously keeps insisting on its territorial integrity demand.

“This gives us a ground to assume that the Georgians will not, in any case, chose toughened policies or a confrontation with Russia,” he said, admitting in the meantime that that a solution is not likely to be achieved in the near future.

“The question is complicated but not impossible to solve. The Abkhazian railway’s launch will offer benefits to both Georgia and Abkhazia, and Russia and Armenia. The railroad’s stoppage today is due purely to political motives, because if we consider the economic factor a priority, it [the railway] would definitely open right tomorrow. But since the political factor is in the forefront, it doesn’t operate,” the Republican lawmaker explained.

He said he expects the railway’s launch to cut to the minimum the freight transportation costs from Russia to Armenia and Georgia.

“As a result, Abkhazia’s economy will develop very rapidly, as it will become a transit country. Georgia will carry out the freight transportation with Russia via the railway, cheaply and comfortably, and that will contribute to the economy’s growth. And Armenia will have the chance to communicate with the external world through the railway,” he added.

Torosyan said he finds the railway opening plan not only realistic but also absolutely logical. “It has to after all open one day. So it is important to overcome all the political ambitions,” he said, agreeing in the meantime that the process will require long efforts.

Speaking to Tert.am, an expert in Georgian affairs, Alik Eroyants, noted that the Georgian-Russian relations have been somewhat pushed to the background against the backdrop of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine

“Seeing very well Russia’s influence on the region, the Georgian side naturally wishes to at least avoid tense relations with such a superpower. Perhaps, that’s the reason that the Georgian side repeatedly voices its willingness to keep the dialogue going,” he said, admitting at the same time the existing difficulties that slow down the process.


The expert said he sees that despite its promises to re-establish relations with Georgia, the Russian authorities seem to be leading the process to a deadlock by recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

According to him, the statements are more aimed at preserving what now exists rather than moving towards a progress. 

Eroyants particularly referred to the Georgian authorities’ recent statement that they no longer treat the reconciliation with Russia as a priority.

He further stressed the need of considering the political and economic implications of the railway’s launch. “A question which remains open is what country will deal with the project’s funding, because we will need considerably serious resources for that. But the political will – as to who will break the stereotype that the Abkhazian railway is nonetheless economically important for all countries - has a big role in any case,” he said, noting that the question’s political aspect is now under focus.

Turkey and Azerbaijan too, are obstacles for the Abkhazian railway’s operation in this case, because it isn’t in their countries’ interest. They are implementing bilateral projects with Georgia and see a counterbalance to those projects, as the operation will be a blow to Turkey and Azerbaijan both economically and politically,” Eroyants said, addign that he doesn't expect the project to ever become realistic in future.