Gas supply to Tskhinvali, suspended as a result of pipeline damage during the August war, has been resumed, the breakaway region’s authorities said on January 25.

The Russian Foreign Ministry welcomed resumption of gas supply and said in a statement posted on its website on January 25 it was “satisfied that a common sense has eventually prevailed in Tbilisi.” Russia has been accusing Tbilisi of “inhuman gas blockage” of breakaway South Ossetia. Officials in Tbilisi said it was possible to restore damaged gas pipeline after the security guarantees were available. The damaged section of the pipe was in an immediate proximity to the breakaway region’s administrative border.

Pipeline was restored by January 16 and on January 22 the Georgian Energy Ministry said gas distributor company, Itera-Georgia, was authorized by the government to carry out gas supply to the breakaway region. A special government permission is required for the company to conduct economic activities in the breakaway regions, according to the law on occupied territories.