Andrey Petrov, Moscow, exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
The Georgian Military Road is the only ground connection between Russia and Armenia. The 200-km road connects Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi, running along the rivers of the Greater Caucasus, including the Darial Gorge. The road is often hit by avalanches and blocked for days or weeks in winter and mudslides in the summer.
19 Russian cities have direct air connection with Yerevan. Another route is the ferry to Batumi. However, the routes are only suitable for passengers, freighting is only possible on the Georgian Military Road.
Mudslides on May 17 and August 20 caused by the Devdorak Glacier broke the North Caucasus – Trans-Caucasus pipeline supplying Armenia with Russian gas and flooded the River Terek. Scientists say that the mudslides are a result of global changes on the Main Caucasus Ridge, even the most advanced technologies cannot prevent glaciers from melting.
In Soviet times, ground connection was available through Azerbaijan and the Trans-Caucasus Railway. The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resulted in closing of the Azerbaijani route, the Georgian Abkhaz conflict left the railway closed.
Trade turnover between the countries has been low for years. Georgia could always use Azerbaijan as an alternative route, it even stopped trade with Russia in the 2000s.
Armenia is joining the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Georgia is expanding trade with Russia. The demand for food from the South Caucasus has risen in the light of Russia’s ban on Western food.
Armenia could make use of the railway through Abkhazia and keep the status quo of Nagorno-Karabakh. Experts say that the topic is often raised at Georgian-Abkhaz top-level meetings.
The transportation collapse is one of the reasons why the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict needs to be settled. Opening borders would allow Armenian businessmen to gain better access to the Russian market through Abkhazia, ignoring avalanches and landslides. Customs fees in Georgia would drop. Azerbaijan would have an opportunity to join Eurasian integration projects and give Armenian businessmen benefits for transportation of products. All the region needs is the political will to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, based on the Madrid Principles or any other document.
Andrey Petrov, Moscow, exclusively for Vestnik KavkazaThe Georgian Military Road is the only ground connection between Russia and Armenia. The 200-km road connects Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi, running along the rivers of the Greater Caucasus, including the Darial Gorge. The road is often hit by avalanches and blocked for days or weeks in Winter and mudslides in the summer.19 Russian cities have direct air connection with Yerevan. Another route is the ferry to Batumi. However, the routes are only suitable for passengers, freighting is only possible on the Georgian Military Road.Mudslides on May 17 and August 20 caused by the Devdorak Glacier broke the North Caucasus – Trans-Caucasus pipeline supplying Armenia with Russian gas and flooded River Terek. Scientists say that the mudslides are a result of global changes on the Main Caucasus Ridge, even the most advanced technologies cannot prevent glaciers from melting.In the Soviet times, ground connection was available through Azerbaijan and the Trans-Caucasus Railway. The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resulted in closing of the Azerbaijani route, the Georgian Abkhaz conflict left the railway closed. Trade turnover between the countries has been low for years. Georgia could always use Azerbaijan as an alternative route, it even stopped trade with Russia in the 2000s.Armenia is joining the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Georgia is expanding trade with Russia. The demand for food from the South Caucasus has risen in the light of Russia’s ban for Western food.Armenia could make use of the railway through Abkhazia and keep status quo of Nagorno-Karabakh. Experts say that the topic is often raised at Georgian-Abkhaz top-level meetin
