Putin Approves Military Transit Agreement with Georgia

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on March 16 giving a go-ahead to signing of an agreement with Georgia on the transit of Russian military personnel and cargo to the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia via Georgia, the Russian President’s press office reported.

The decree instructs the Russian Defense Ministry to negotiate with the Georgian side over the issue with the participation of the Russian Foreign Ministry and to sign the agreement upon finalization of the talks.

The five–year agreement, which has already been agreed upon with the Georgian side, obliges Russia to not transfer any armament transited through the Georgian territory to a third country. The amount of military cargo that will be transited via Georgia will be agreed between Russia and Georgia one year in advance.

Russia also undertakes the commitment not to transit biological, nuclear or chemical substances, as well as weapon of mass destruction or their components.

According to the draft agreement, Georgia can refuse the transit of items if the movement of the military cargo poses a threat to its national security or if the final destination of the transited military cargo is a location within a conflict zone or a warring state.