Andrey Klimov, a Russian official who has emerged in recent days as a vocal supporter of the referendum-based annexation of South Ossetia, has suggested that Turkey will sway the Adjara region to split from Georgia. Klimov, the Deputy Chair of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Foreign Relations, made the speculative remarks on Telegram in response to Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili’s interview with CNN, in which she said Tbilisi had joined financial sanctions against Moscow over the Ukrainian invasion.

"It's apparent that Tbilisi's current declaration was made in response to Tskhinvali's previous offers to have South Ossetia join the Russian Federation," Klimov said, adding that "Zourabichvili’s current moves would punish the Georgian people above all. Revenues from trade with Russia will plummet, as will the supply of products essential to Georgia from Russia. In Russia, Georgian commodities will be substituted by other goods.” He predicted that "the influx of Russian visitors will obviously decline."

"This little mountainous country's already precarious economic status will deteriorate. Georgia will not get any significant retaliation from the EU or the US for its anti-Russian act. It will not be admitted into NATO or the EU,” according to the Russian official.