Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs

With the order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs (Министерство Российской Федерации по делам Северного Кавказа) was established on May 12, 2014. When presenting the head of the new Ministry, Putin stated:  “We are creating a new structure in the form of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs in order to develop North Caucasus”. According to the assessment of the experts, the purpose of creating the Ministry was to control the field of economy in North Caucasus.

The official task of the Ministry is to formulate and implement state policy for the social-economic development of North Caucasus Federal District as well as coordinate the work connected with the implementation of state and federal target programs taking place on its territory.

The responsibilities of the Ministry also include implementing investment projects designed to support Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region and monitoring the implementation of those programs. On December 21, 2017, a new Deputy Minister was specifically appointed at the Ministry who would become the curator of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region there.

The first leader of the Ministry was Lev Kuznetsov, who served on the position of a Minister from May 12, 2014. He often used to visit Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region in order to monitor the implementation of the investment programs supporting social-economic development there. In the new government assembled after the March 18, 2018 victory of Vladimir Putin in Russian Presidential elections, Lev Kuznetsov was replaced by Sergei Chebotarev on May 18, 2018, at the order of the President. Chebotarev is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable public servants in Russia regarding the issues of South Caucasus, especially Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region.

The 2016-2021 Action Plan of the Ministry envisages various developments in the directions of Abkhazia and Tskinvali Region. One of Ministry’s aims is to develop cooperation with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. In order to reach that goal, it is planned to interact with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region in terms of the work of the Government Commission on Social-Economic Cooperation, provide financial assistance to Tskhinvali Region and ensure cooperation with Abkhazia with the aim of developing its social-economic and scientific-technical fields.

The International Cooperation Department of the Ministry, Director of which has been Anton Melnik since February 2015, is responsible for relations with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. Out of four divisions in the International Cooperation Department, three are responsible for relations with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region:  Division for Interactions with the "Republic of South Ossetia"; Division for Interactions with the "Republic of Abkhazia"; Division for Monitoring and Methodology of Social-Economic Development of the "Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia". Vera Denk is Deputy Director and head of Division for Interactions with the “Republic of Abkhazia”. Maksim Smirnov is Deputy Director and head of Division for Interactions with the “Republic of South Ossetia”.

Note: On January 21, 2020,  by the order of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs was abolished. The Ministry functions were transferred to the Ministry of Economic Development.

The Ministry was abolished officially on September 9, 2020.