Abkhazia is a self-proclaimed republic in Georgia and the Tbilisi authorities previously stated that Abkhazian waters would be closed to traffic.
"The Georgian frontier department made such a statement at the start of June," the Foreign Ministry said. "It evoked the concern of the Abkhazian authorities, who took it as a signal that force could be used. This would obviously complicate relations between Sukhumi and Tbilisi."
The ministry recalled "attempts to establish de facto sea blockade of Abkhazia last summer, which resulted in an escalation of tension and a suspension of the Georgian-Abkhazian settlement process, which was restored only recently."
The ministry's statement said Russia, which is in favor of increasing the level of trust between Georgia and Abkhazia, regarded any provocative actions as unacceptable and if necessary would take appropriate measures, including those to ensure safe vacations for Russian citizens on Abkhazia's Black Sea shore.
