The Launch of the Ferry Route is in Effect for Armenia, Says Georgian Minister of Economy

Georgia has completed consultations with transport companies regarding the commencement of ferry transportation with Russia. This was stated in a written response from the office of the Minister of Economy of Georgia to a query from opposition MP Paata Manjgaladze.

Earlier, Armenian authorities announced the opening of a ferry connection between the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti and the Russian port of Caucasus, located in the Sea of Azov. Officials in Yerevan hope that this route will serve as an alternative for Armenian freight carriers due to the congestion at the Upper Lars border crossing.

“In June of this year, the Minister of Economy of Armenia addressed us with a request to start the ferry service from Poti to Caucasus. Based on this request, consultations were held among the relevant transport companies,” the Georgian Ministry of Economy reported.

The ministry emphasized that the Georgian side has not signed any new agreements with Moscow, and that the direct international rail-ferry communication between the ports of Poti and Caucasus was established under a contract back in early 2005.

Currently, freight transportation from Armenia to Russia and vice versa is only carried out through the Kazbegi-Upper Lars checkpoint, which is the only functioning border crossing point between Georgia and Russia.

It should be noted that the ferry service between the Georgian port of Poti and the Russian port of Caucasus was expected to start on June 15. On August 11, Armenia's Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan announced that it would be operational soon. However, as of today, this has not occurred.