Putin Proposes Building Railway linking Moscow to Yerevan through Sukhumi and Tbilisi

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia and Abkhazia will consider creation of transit railways between Moscow, Sukhumi, Tbilisi and Yerevan, TASS reports.

“If all the parties agree, we believe it is possible to jointly consider this project and then construct transit railways, connecting Georgian cities of Sukhumi and Tbilisi with Armenia on one side and Russia on the other”, Putin told the media.

“The implementation of such projects will contribute to the creation of conditions for the development of relations between all interested parties,” the Russian president added.

Armenia, which will become a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union beginning next year, has no land connection with the rest of the Union members, also including Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Putin made the statement after Russia and Abkhazia signed the Treaty on Allied Relations and Strategic Partnership.

The new treaty is based on the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of 2008 that fixed Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia.

Georgia does not recognize Abkhazia as an independent country and considers it to be still part of its territory.