According to LSEG and industry sources, this month the Russian company Russneft delivered its first oil shipment to Georgia’s newly constructed Kulevi oil refinery, Reuters reports.

Russia and Georgia have not maintained official diplomatic relations since 2008, following a brief war over the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, which enjoy Moscow’s support.

However, according to media reports, under the ruling Georgian Dream party, Tbilisi has strengthened economic ties with Russia, while relations with Western countries have sharply deteriorated.