On October 6, Russian state media reported that Moscow plans to establish a permanent naval base in the Ochamchir region of long-occupied Abkhazia. On October 4, the leader of the separatist regime in Abkhazia, Aslan Bjaniya, confirmed this agreement again in his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. If the base is built, it will be the third military location on the territory of Georgia, and the second in Abkhazia itself.

Gia Nodia, the former Minister of Education and Science, head of the Caucasian Peace Institute and political scientist, who spoke to Ednews about the issue, emphasized that this base poses a great threat to the region:

"Any expansion of Russia's military power in the South Caucasus is a bad thing for the South Caucasus. First of all, of course, the Ochamchir base poses a threat to Georgia and undermines Georgia's sovereignty. However, as a result, Russia's strengthening of positions in the South Caucasus is bad for all three South Caucasus countries. Because Russia does not want to give up its claims to become a dominant power."

The expert also said that this base was created in the context of the Ukrainian war:

"Let me note that this particular decision regarding the Ochamchir base was made in the context of war, so this makes it doubly dangerous. Because this base will become a legal target of military operations from the Ukrainian side. The construction of the base poses a separate threat to Georgia, but it is part of Georgia and is very close to the regions that Georgia actually controls.

Does Georgia plan to intervene in this regard?

"Georgia cannot do much about it, because of course it cannot withstand some military conflict with Russia, it can only protest. In today's complex conditions, I think that even if he tries to convey his voice, it will not give any result," the Georgian expert said at the end.

Akbar Novruz