Georgian–Russian border crossing in Zemo Larsi (wikimapia.org)
An agreement to create three trade corridors between Russia and Georgia, including through Abkhazia and South Ossetia, is to move forward, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin. Karasin met with the Georgian PM’s Special Representative to Russia, Zurab Abashidze, on Thursday in Prague.
(Gana Yanovskaya /OC Media)
Mineral waters occupy a symbolic place in South Ossetia, and there are hopes to develop this into a successful industry. But due to its international isolation, exports abroad remain practically impossible, and even their ‘window to the world’, Russia, remains largely closed to them.
The protest of Makhachkala market-traders (Aida Mirmaksumova /OC Media)
Around 100 traders from the Dagelektromash market, which burnt down in Makhachkala this spring, have met with the local administration, after taking to the central square of the city.
The fire on 31 March in Makhachkala (Magomed Magomedomarov/Facebook)
The city administration will not compensate people who lost property in a market fire in Makhachkala in March, the mayor has said. A number of victims told OC Media they intend to fight the decision.
The Fabrika Market in Nazran after the FSB’s raid (memohrc.org)
On 19 August, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) raided the Fabrika Market in Nazran, Ingushetia’s largest city. The authorities seized a large amount of gold jewellery from stalls. The owners and vendors claim that the FSB’s actions were illegal.
‘We do not sell apricots for cheaper than ֏500 ($1) per kilogramme’ (David Stepanyan/OC Media)
Armenia’s apricot farmers have had a bountiful season, but are unable to enjoy the fruits of their labour. They say that Spayka, an exporter with alleged connections to the president’s son-in-law, has captured the market — and is abusing its misbegotten power.
Pavilions adjacent to houses on Ferdowsi Street (David Stepanyan/OC Media)
On 6 June, the Yerevan City Hall informed the vendors of the clothing market on Ferdowsi Street that construction work would begin there on 15 June. The vendors were asked to move their improvised pavilions to other spots. They remain dissatisfied with the decision and have asked for six months to relocate. The negotiations have so far been fruitless.
Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Italian Confederation of Agriculture with the Abkhazian delegation (Facebook)
An agreement signed between Sukhumi (Sukhum) and Santa Maria Del Cedro in Italy in early May will soon be annulled, Georgia’s ambassador to Italy claims.
On the day after an enormous fire engulfed the Bavshvta Samyaro shopping centre in central Tbilisi on 31 January, the hundreds of vendors affected have received a small ray of hope. Gold and silver jewelry, which had been kept in safes in the building’s basement, have survived the fire. [Read more…]
Russian border guards’ checkpoint on the Transcaucasian highway near Ergneti (Goga Aptsiauri)
The de facto republic of South Ossetia is considering opening up trade with the rest of Georgia. However, the proposals are meeting resistance from those opposed to trading with their ‘enemy’.
