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GEORGIA: TURKISH SHIP CAPTAIN GETS 24 YEARS FOR SMUGGLING TO ABKHAZIA
9/01/09

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In a decision that could put an end to trade between Turkey and the breakaway region of Abkhazia, a Georgian court has sentenced a Turkish ship captain to 24 years in jail for sailing his freighter to Abkhazia without Tbilisi’s consent.

On August 31, Mehmet Öztürk was found guilty of smuggling and flouting Georgian regulations on Abkhazia and the fellow breakaway region of South Ossetia -- territories that Georgia considers to be under Russian occupation -- local news portals reported. The law forbids foreign companies and governments from trading with the two territories. Despite the restrictions, there has been some maritime traffic between Abkhazia and countries that border the Black Sea, such as Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Georgian coast guards have been busy policing the waters to prevent unauthorized trade.

Öztürk’s cargo ship was detained in mid-August for attempting to bring some 2,700 tons of fuel from Turkey to the Abkhaz capital Sukhumi. Russia, which has a defense assistance agreement with Abkhazia, has announced plans to dispatch military ships to escort vessels in and out of Abkhazia’s coastal waters and to fend off the Georgian coast guard.

Posted September 1, 2009 © Eurasianet
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