On February 29 Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke about Russia’s plan to open a permanent naval base in Ochamchire, occupied Abkhazia and stressed that "Europeans should realize that the Black Sea is at stake.”

In an interview with BBC HARDtalk the President did not rule out that the Ochamchire port might involve Georgia in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

"At the moment this port project is part of Russian propaganda. Putin is actually waging more psychological warfare than military warfare. It’s very important what happens to this port and I think Europeans should realize that the Black Sea is at stake. Nobody could afford Russians to take control of this part of the Black Sea, because this means that all the projects, that the European Union has in the direction of Black Sea connectivity and strategic transportation, will be at stake," Zurabishvili said.

As she stated, "the EU should consider that the Black Sea is the de-facto European sea and not allow Russia to push the EU out of the Black Sea. This can be discussed with Turkey, which is a very important partner in the Black Sea."

She called EU to act now, instead of waiting till the Ochamchire port is built, mentioning among possible measures the increased port calls in Batumi and Poti and investment in Anaklia port.

"Europeans should support the construction of the Anaklia port, where we should see active investments from the EU and the U.S." she added.

To the question, "However, this will not stop the construction of that port by the Russians...," the President said: "No, but we must be ahead."

In this interview, the President also spoke about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as about Georgia’s domestic issues.