The Government of Georgia has decided to terminate its contract with the Anaklia Development Consortium, Deputy Prime-Minister, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Maia Tskitishvili told reporters on January 9, noting that new tender documents will be prepared for Anaklia deep sea port construction.

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine, director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center John E. Herbst said that the Georgian government’s decision on the Anaklia project will call into question the sanctity of contracts in Georgia.

“This decision will obviously delay the completion of this project. It will also call into question the sanctity of contracts in Georgia. That is the serious problem because to attract foreign capital, Georgia needs a reputation as a strong rule of law society. This decision does not contribute to that reputation,” Herbst told the Accent.

As he said, it is not clear why the government of Georgia made this decision.

“No credible evidence has been presented suggesting that there were improprieties with the original tender. Investors have been found for this important project and it was in the process of being implemented,” he added.

The Anaklia Development Consortium commented on the government’s decision later on January 9. Levan Akhvlediani, Consortium’s Director General said they would take the Georgian government to international court over the termination of the contract.

Anaklia Deep Sea Port project has strong backing from the U.S.

In June 2019, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said following the meeting with Mamuka Bakhtadze, then Prime Minister of Georgia:

"Finally, I communicated our hope that Georgia completes the port project. The project and others will enhance Georgia’s relationship with free economies and prevent Georgia from falling prey to Russian or Chinese economic influence. Those pretended friends do not have Georgia’s best interests at heart."