World Bulletin / News Desk

The Eastern Black Sea Exporters Association General Secretary Ahmet Hamdi Gurdogan said on Saturday that Russia's military actions in Crimea have heavily damaged Turkey’s exports to Russia as they were via Ukraine.

“Turkish exporters have to use the Kazbegi-Verkhny Lars border gate, between Georgia and Russia, as that is the only legally functioning border-crossing to export to Russia after diplomatic reactions and the perceived danger of war between Russia and Ukraine” said Gurdogan.

Gurdogan also complained that the Georgian government gives limited transit pass permits to Turkish firms. “Turkey’s transit trade to the Russian Federation has come to a standstill,” he added.

The secretary general finally thanked the Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Hayati Yazıcı who he said is working hard to solve the issues surrounding Turkey's transit trade to Russia.