An agreement between the Russian company "Rosneft" and Abkhazian "state company" "Abkhaztop", together with an agreement among the Ministry of Economy of the proxy regime and the company of "RN-Abkhazia" were signed on December 24, 2009. According to the above-mentioned agreements the Russian Federation was entitled with the right to start research works over the Black Sea continental shelf at the Gudauta segment, Georgia.

It should be emphasized that Russia's decision to conduct research and exploration works over the territorial waters of Georgia, with the aim to exploit and develop oil and gas reserves, represents a clear and gross violation of the norms of the international law as well as the Georgian legislation, in particular the Law on Occupied Territories of Georgia and Oil and Gas Law of Georgia.

Under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Georgia, as a coastal State exercises sovereign rights and special jurisdiction for the purpose of carrying out economic activity, research works and exploitation of natural resources over the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone. These rights are exclusive in the sense that if the coastal State does not explore the continental shelf or exploit its natural resources, no one may undertake these activities without the express consent of the Coastal State.

The Law on Occupied Territories of Georgia imposes restrictions on entrepreneurial activity on the occupied territories, including in the sea areas. Besides, the Code of Administrative Offences as well as the Criminal Code of Georgia provide for liability for the violation of national laws both on the continental shelf and in the Exclusive Economic Zone.

In contrast to the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf over which Georgia exercises only sovereign rights for the purpose of their economic development, it should be emphasized that the territorial sea and internal waters make up the maritime area of Georgia over which Georgia exercises its full sovereignty. The only right that countries other than the coastal state may exercise within territorial sea of the latter is that of innocent passage.

Moreover, the Oil and Gas Law of Georgia states that oil and gas resources in the subsoil of the territory of Georgia are the state property and Georgia has an exclusive and sovereign right to explore and exploit oil and gas resources on Georgian onshore and continental shelf. Oil and Gas Law of Georgia determines the detailed procedures on how to issue a license for usage of oil and gas resources, which are regulated by a specialized agency, on the basis of tender.

The latest actions of the Russian Federation once again demonstrated that since the aggression committed by the Russian Federation in August 2008 and subsequent occupation of Georgia's territories, Russian occupation forces exercise effective control over Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali Region, Georgia.

Throughout this period, Russia remains in grave violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law, as well as of its multilateral and bilateral obligations and practically every provision of the Ceasefire Agreement signed of August 12, 2008 among them.

Considering the latest actions of the Russian Federation as a continuance of the annexation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia expresses its strong protest and states that Georgian side will utilize all legal means in order to protect sovereign rights of Georgia and cease pirate activities of the Russian side.