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Thursday,
August 2,
2007, #146 (1413) By Nino Mumladze On July 30, Abkhazian de facto authorities declared that Georgia does not have sufficient political leverage to influence continued economic investment in the breakaway region. The statement was a direct response to a warning from Tbilisi about "null and void" foreign investments in the secessionist zones of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, issued earlier the same day. "Georgia has been using its diplomatic ties to restrict economic development of Abkhazia since 2004…However, time has proven the futility of these attempts," said Stanislav Lakoba, de facto secretary of the Abkhazian national security council, according to the Apsnypress news agency. Georgian deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Giorgi Manjgaladze met representatives of diplomatic missions in Georgia to ensure that foreign businessmen are informed of the risks and possible complications for "illegal" investment in Georgia's conflict zones. "Any transaction that has been carried out on the territory of Abkhazia, Georgia, including those related to the alienation of real estate, are null and void in conformity with Georgian legislation," warned Manjgaladze. "Any foreign investor involved in such a transaction will be subject to civil and possibly criminal liability… subsequent to the full restoration of Georgian jurisdiction over the territories of the conflict regions, any illegally acquired property will be returned to its legitimate owner," he continued. However, breakaway authorities dismissed the most recent threats from Tbilisi as "unconvincing." Kristian Bzhania, a spokesperson for secessionist leader Sergey Bagapsh, described the warnings as a "bluff" to damage the investment image of Abkhazia, suggesting it was merely "agitation-propaganda" of a government deprived of other leverages of influence. "As far as they have no other leverages, the only thing available is to disseminate disinformation," Bzhania told the Apsnypress news agency on July 31. Secessionist authorities made clear they won't ask for permission from Tbilisi on any construction, joint enterprises or potential investments in Abkhazia. "Whether Georgia wants it or not, investments will come to Abkhazia," said Leonid Lakoba, a de facto vice prime minister for Abkhazia. The Georgian government's repeated warning messages are intended for a broader target audience than just the breakaway regions. Russian state agencies and high-ranking officials, as well as private companies, are believed to have purchased property in Abkhazia. The Ministry of Refugees and Resettlement recently released a list of 31 unlawfully sold and purchased assets, with holiday villas and hotels seeming to be the preferred investment choices. On July 9, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov announced that the Moscow municipality would continue to carry out various investment projects in Abkhazia. He added it was difficult to imagine holding the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi without the participation of "a neighbor like Abkhazia." On the same day, the prospect of long term Russian investment in Abkhazia prompted Georgia Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili to send a warning in Moscow's direction. "Everyone should know that the time will come when illegally purchased property will be returned to the legal owners," he said.
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Tbilisi can't
stop foreign investment in Abkhazia, say separatist officials 