Israel may soon have another Caucasus client for its weaponry -- the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
Abkhazia’s de facto official news agency Apsny Press reported on April 14 that separatist leader Sergei Bagapsh has struck a deal in Moscow with Israeli company Global CST to supply unspecified defense technologies to Abkhazia. Former defense officials participated in the negotiations, which, the agency claims, had the Israeli government's blessing. A delegation of ex-officials and representatives of the company are Sokhumi-bound this week, the agency reported.
The news came amidst a reported cooling-off in Georgian-Israeli ties. Another Israeli contractor is suing Georgia for allegedly failing to pay for military equipment purchases. A Georgian court's recent conviction of two Israeli businessmen on bribery charges has added further tensions to the backdrop.
Giorgi Lomsadze is a journalist based in Tbilisi, and author of Tamada Tales.
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