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Analysts: Kokoity may be trying to set up FEZ

By M. Alkhazashvili (Translated by Diana Dundua)
Monday, November 19
Georgian analysts warn that South Ossetian de facto leader Eduard Kokoity may be planning to establish a Free Economic Zone (FEZ) in Kvaisa, in the district of Java.

Kvaisa was a mining town in the Soviet era, but has since slipped into economic insignificance.

Analyst Mamuka Areshidze says that Kokoity hopes to confer city status on Kvaisa in order to help attract investment, and may even make it a FEZ, according to the newspaper Rezonansi.

Media reports also say that Kokoity has been trying to secure Korean investment in the town, prompting State Minister for Conflict Resolution Davit Bakradze reissue warnings against illegal investments.

“This would be a violation of the international agreement,” Bakradze stated.