Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region has plans to open Sokhumi airporport starting 2024, de facto president Aslan Bzhania said on Thursday.

"An investor has already been identified who is ready to invest in the construction and renovation of the airport.. If the project goes smoothly, the airport will receive its first passengers in two years," said Bzhania.

He suggested that "at the moment, work is also underway to simplify border crossing at the River Psou.”

Bzhania stated earlier this week that the breakaway region was ready to help Russia import goods via its territory.  

Russian media outlets cited Bzhania as saying on Wednesday that he was not afraid of imposing sanctions for the move, as the decision would “push for closer ties between Russia and Abkhazia.” 

“We have two ports, we have access to other countries," said Bzhania. 

Russia recognized two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent states after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war. 

Since then only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have joined Russia in the illegal move, while the rest of the international community is unanimous that the regions are occupied.