The president of the former Georgian republic of Abkhazia has forbidden police from stopping cars with Russian license plates unless they have a good reason.
Abkhazia has remained a popular area on the Black Sea for Russian tourists even after the fall of the Soviet Union and Abkhazia's proclaimed independence from Georgia in 2008.
"I gave an order to the interior ministry not to stop cars with Russian license plates. Not one car. If I see this happen and catch [someone] doing this, I will immediately fire them," Sergei Bagapsh said at a briefing on Thursday.
Bagapsh explained his move in that Russia has invested much in the development of Abkhazia and that the republic needs to develop its tourism industry and attract Russian tourists.
"People come here on vacation and spend their money here. This money goes into the budget, which pays police salaries," he said adding that fining people 200-300 rubles ($7-$10) "for forgetting to use their turn signals" would have to stop.
He did say, however, that drivers committing more serious misdemeanors should be punished for their actions.
Russia recognized the independence of the former Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in August 2008 after repelling Georgia's assault on South Ossetia in a five-day war. Only Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny Pacific island state of Nauru have followed suit.
SUKHUMI, April 29 (RIA Novosti)
