Russia wants to turn the Black Sea into its backyard and control everything that enters the Black Sea, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said on TV Pirveli.

As the ambassador explained, Georgia plays an important role in keeping the Black Sea an international sea.

"Georgia has an important law enforcement role along with a broad security role. Russia wants to turn the Black Sea into a sea of its backyard and control everything that enters in and out. Georgia is playing an important role in keeping the Black Sea an international sea that will be open to ships from all of our countries," Kelly Degnan said.