Putin signs agreement on trade with breakaway regions of Georgia

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin signed laws on ratification of agreement on trade with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, breakaway regions of Georgia.

This document will establish a duty-free mode of importing goods. Therefore, the import of alcohol and tobacco products from these two breakaway regions of Georgia isn't included in a free trade regime.

In addition, according to this law, during the first year after the introduction of agreement, the export customs duties won't be applied to gasoline and diesel fuel in the volume which doesn't exceed 50 thousand tons per year for Abkhazia and 35 thousand tons per year for South Ossetia.

The agreements between the government of Russia and the authorities of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were signed in 2012.

Abkhazia seceded from Georgia in 1993 after the one-year war in Abkhazia. One year before Abkhazia War, South Ossetia broke away from Georgia. The independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was recognized by the five states: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Tuvalu.