The Georgian parliament has unanimously approved a draft law on the occupied territories imposing various restrictions on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are to remain in place until such time as Georgian jurisdiction is restored. 

“Our goal is that this law does not create problems for Georgian citizens living there,” MP Pavle Kublashvili, co-author of the draft law, said. “Hence, the restrictions will concern only non-Georgian citizens.”

He said that the draft law envisages three restrictions. In particular, it will restrict free movement into the occupied territories, obliging foreigners to enter Abkhazia and South Ossetia from the rest of Georgia, in agreement with the Georgian authorities.

The second restriction concerns property rights, which will have no legal force as long as the occupation lasts.

And the third, dealing with business activities, will see real estate deals and investment in the two regions prohibited.

“We should not create favorable conditions for investors carrying out business activities under the orders of the separatists,” Kublashvili said.

The draft law geographically covers the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic and the former Autonomous District of South Ossetia. It also covers areas under Georgian control before the war, namely the Upper Kodori Gorge, the Akhalgori district and Georgian villages north of Tskhinvali, which are currently under Russian occupation.

Parliamentary Chairman Davit Bakradze said that the draft law would be further improved before its final approval.