Benetton Turkey has backed away from its original plan to open a store in Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia, after coming under heavy pressure from Tbilisi, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

"The fashion company's controversial plan to launch a fashion shop in a war-ravaged corner of the former Soviet Union has drawn it into a bitter political dispute," the newspaper wrote in its weekend issue. "Benetton Group has revoked its decision to open the shop in the disputed Black Sea region of Abkhazia after senior Georgian politicians expressed anger and Benetton retailers in Georgia closed their stores in protest. This is the first time an international brand has been targeted over its links to Abkhazia."

The plan to open up shop in Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, met with protest from seven Benetton shops in Georgia, which closed their doors in protest, the Journal wrote.

Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze described Benetton Turkey's proposed move as "outrageous," the newspaper reported.

Added the newspaper: "In Abkhazia, this will be seen as another example of Georgian intimidation aimed at economically isolating the region and thwarting its desires for genuine independence."