Vyacheslav Kovalenko, the Russian ambassador in Tbilisi, called on Georgia to follow Russia’s example by lifting sanctions on Abkhazia.

“We should find a way out of this deadlock and I think it would be very good if the Georgian side also lifted sanctions on Abkhazia,” Kovalenko said on March 7. “I think that if the Georgian side did the same as the Russians, it would be a strong and positive signal for launching positive dialogue between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides.”

He was speaking with journalists after receiving an official complaint by the Georgian Foreign Ministry regarding Russia’s decision to withdraw from the 1996 CIS treaty imposing economic sanctions on Abkhazia.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry pointed out in a March 7 statement that the 1996 CIS treaty also bans arms trade with Abkhazia. “[By] withdrawing from the [treaty], Russia considers itself no longer bound by the obligation not to sell and supply to the Abkhazian side all kinds of armaments, defense equipment and spare parts, ammunition, armored vehicles and equipment; and [it no longer feels bound not] to prevent the hiring of its own citizens and their enrolment in any armed group[in Abkhazia],” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.