SUKHUMI, March 22 (RIA Novosti) – The president of the breakaway Georgian republic of Abkhazia on Friday condemned the seizure by Georgia of a ship headed for Turkey as an act of piracy.
President Alexander Ankvab said the incident marks the latest in a string of similar seizures.
The ship, which was headed for the Turkish port of Trabzon, was this week intercepted by Georgian border guards in the Black Sea while carrying 600 tons of fish flour and 300 tons of fish oil.
Georgian authorities escorted the vessel to the port of Poti and the nine crewmembers, including two Russian nationals, two Ukrainians and five Azerbaijanis, were detained.
Georgia lost control over one-fifth of its territory after Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away and were recognized by Moscow in the wake of a brief war with Russia in August 2008.
Both had enjoyed de facto independence since the early 1990s, following earlier conflicts with Georgia.
Georgia repeatedly accused Moscow of aiding separatist movements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia at that time.
Moscow provides the breakaway republics economic and military support and has recognized their independence.
