TBILISI. Aug 4 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has issued the order to sink all ships entering the port of Sukhumi without the Georgian authorities' permission.
"Fire will be opened at all ships that venture to enter the port of Sukhumi without official permission. Such ships must be sunk," Saakashvili told a news conference on Tuesday evening.
He cautioned Russian tourists against visiting Abkhazia.
"When the situation in Abkhazia is finally settled and when all of the tragic chapters become a thing of the past, Russian tourists will be the most welcome guests in Abkhazia," said Saakashvili.
"Please, come then, and spend your money. But now, if you want to come to Sukhumi by sea, you must be well aware that our warship a few days ago opened fire at a ship that had violated our sea border," the Georgian president said.
"Georgian boats must not enter the Russian territorial waters without permission. Likewise, Russian ships must not enter zones closed for them," he said.
"Of course, anyone may wish to travel to Abkhazia or buy property there, but this must be done with due account taken of the Georgian law and with the Georgian authorities' permission. The rest is piracy and banditry, which we shall not tolerate," Saakashvili said.