Sukhum Double-Purpose Military Track

The project design of restoration of cut-through motor traffic along Transcaucasia to Abkhazia was started in Karachaevo-Cherkessia.

"The idea of the Sukhum Military Track restoration for cut-through motor traffic from Cherkessk to Sukhum was supported by the leaders (Russia)", - vice Prime Minister of Karachaevo-Cherkessia's government Ismail Aliev stated. According to him the project implementation will turn all Western Caucasus into "a huge sea-mountain resort".

Abkhazian leaders as it is asserted in Karachaevo-Cherkesssia also back the idea of restoration of the second road to Russia. Now both countries are connected by the Sochi-Sukhum coastal highway.

Categorical turndown of the project was expressed by the Economy Minister of the Abkhazian (i.e. pro-Georgian) government in exile Kote Kuchukhidze stressing that there were Russia's greedy interests behind the road restoration decision. He says the Sukhum Military Track has not been in use since 1946 as a motorway and from a purely economic point of view it is completely useless.

"The restoration of this road involves colossal funding", - Kuchukhidze stated to GHN agency. - When Russia is incapable of restoring its own roads it comes forward with the initiative to rehabilitate the Sukhum Military Track along the Caucasian ridge".

According to the Ministry without Economy that means Russia is masterminding another occupation of Georgia's territory.

Generally speaking the Sukhum Military Track is needed for strategic purposes. By the way the similar situation is in South Ossetia: an alternative route through Mamisonskoye gorge is planned there as a practically green-field project.

From the military point of view to have only one road connecting the republics with Russia is somewhat risky. It is sufficient to recall a multi-kilometer traffic jam of Russian military machines at the entrance to Roksky tunnel on the first days of the August war. Russia can no more neglect interests of both republics in case their safety is in danger.

This project is also beneficial because unlike Mamisonsky gorge the Sukhum Military Track has one advantage. In ancient times it was known as "A Turkish path". It was the basic caravan track connecting Kolkhida with the Caspian region. The surroundings are literally packed with various monuments of ancient architecture. And if the Sukhum Military Track has not been operating as a motorway for a long time it was quite a popular tourist route until a comparatively recent time. Until the outbreak of hostilities in Abkhazia in 1992-1993.

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