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Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili said that new transit terms with Russia’s Gazprom ‘worsens the country’s energy sector’ and ‘harms Georgia’s political and economic interests.’ According to Civil.ge news website, the president also called on the country’s parliament to present a plan on ‘minimizing’ the associated ‘risks and threats.’

To remind, Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze announced on January 11 about an agreement with Gazprom over the terms of Russian gas transit to Armenia via Georgia, according to which, during the first year of the two-year contract, Georgia will partially maintain the commodity payment scheme and move to full monetary reimbursement in the second year. Kaladze added that if Georgia requires additional natural gas, it will pay USD 185 per 1000 cubic meters of Russian gas instead of USD 215."

“The issue of Gazprom is more than just a business agreement, this is security, foreign policy and geopolitics first and energy and economy after that,” Eka Mishveladze, the president’s press speaker said on January 17, as quoted by the source.

“Therefore, the head of state calls on the parliament to fulfill its constitutional duty and strengthen the supervisory function, as well as present a plan on minimizing and insuring against the risks and threats,” she added.