Putin Briefed over Gas Supplies to Georgia

Gazprom chief executive, Alexei Miller, told Russian PM, Vladimir Putin, at a meeting on January 5, that the company had “just learnt that Georgia is prepared to resume gas supplies to South Ossetia.”

Russia has accused Tbilisi of cutting gas to the breakaway region following the August war. Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, said while addressing the OSCE ministerial council on December 5 that the Tbilisi’s move was “inhuman.”

Georgia says that gas supply was suspended as the Agara-Tskhinvali pipeline was damaged during the military actions in August.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on December 31 that the pipeline was damaged in the village of Dirbi in the immediate vicinity of the breakaway region’s administrative border, which it said, was “in the high risk zone.”

“The Georgian side, however, launched restoration works on this section of the gas pipeline being, though, aware that examination of the full length of the pipeline would in any case be necessary for technical security reasons,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said adding that it was “immoral” to accuse Georgia of aggravating the humanitarian situation “given the Russian occupation of a considerable part of Georgian territories… ethnic cleansing, mass expulsion of the local population.”

During the meeting with Gazprom chief executive, during which mainly gas dispute with Ukraine was discussed, PM Putin also asked Alexei Miller to brief him about gas supply to Georgia.

“How are we working with the Georgian partners?” he asked the Gazprom chief executive in remarks aired by the Russian television stations. “At present it’s a normal working mode,” Miller responded.

“In other words, you do supply gas to Georgia?.. I understand that in general, the entire volume contracted by Georgia is being delivered to the republic,” Putin asked. “Yes,” Miller responded.

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