Sokhumi refuses to allow international observers to monitor cargo turnover on its territory

It is known that Switzerland is mediating Georgian-Russian relations as a result of the recent WTO deal. According to this agreement Switzerland is granted the rights to deploy international monitors to check cargo turnover between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway regions. The Abkhazian side however refused to allow any international bodies on its territory offering for Russia instead to deploy them to its territory and Georgia on its side of the administrative border. The controversies have already started. Both sides, Moscow and Tbilisi, claim to have the upper hand in the situation. Tbilisi thinks that by achieving the monitoring and signing an agreement between Russia and Georgia Moscow has partially admitted Georgia’s sovereignty over the disputed territories. Whereas Moscow thinks that by this document Tbilisi has partially admitted the independence of these entities.