Publication: N34 / Review Period: October 1-31, 2021
Review of Kremlin Policy in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region is being prepared within the framework of the project - Roadmap to Kremlin's Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. The purpose of the publication is to review important developments related to Russia’s policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. The review is a monthly publication and will be useful for everyone – decision-makers, public employees, media representatives and other people who are interested in the Kremlin policy in the occupied regions of Georgia.
The 54th Round
The 54th round of the Geneva International Talks was held on October 12-13, 2021. A “delegation” of Abkhazia drew attention to a statement of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, on the delimitation and demarcation of the borders. Sokhumi called Gharibashvili’s statement inadequate and noted that the idea of a “united Georgia” is unrealistic. The de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Tskhinvali region assessed the situation on the “South Ossetian-Georgian state border” as stable and confirmed the absence of serious incidents.
During the talks, the Russian delegation offered Georgia to start the process of delimitation and further demarcation of the borders with Abkhazia and “South Ossetia.”
Bzhania’s Visits to Russia
October turned out to be busy for the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania. His frequent visits to Moscow indicate that he wants to gain the support of high-ranking Russian officials to deal with domestic political or economic challenges.
Bzhania's 9th Visit to Moscow
Aslan Bzhania was supposed to start his nineth working visit to Moscow on October 2, however, due to an incident between war veterans, lawmakers, and police officers which took place on the Sokhumi embankment, on September 30, he had to interrupt the visit on October 3. Bzhania left for Russia on a repeated visit on October 8.
On October 11, Bzhania met with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Marat Khusnullin, who oversees the direction of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in the Russian government. The “parties” discussed the issues of Abkhaz-Russian cooperation and the socio-economic development of Abkhazia for 2022-2025.
On October 12, Bzhania met with representatives of Gazprom and its subsidiary Gazprom Promgaz and discussed the general gasification scheme and gas supplies to Abkhazia. On the same day, Alexander Neradko, the Head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, hosted Aslan Bzhania. The meeting discussed the resumption of flights between Russia and Abkhazia and the adoption of the necessary “intergovernmental” agreements and “legislative regulations.”
On October 13, Sergey Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, and Bzhania discussed the issues of cooperation between Abkhazia and Russia in the field of defence and security. On October 15, Bzhania met with the Russian Finance Minister, Anton Siluanov, to discuss the socio-economic development of Abkhazia for 2022-2025 and the financial cooperation.
Meeting Between Bzhania and Shoigu. Source: presidentofabkhazia.org
Bzhania’s Tenth Visit to Moscow
On October 26, Bzhania paid another “official” visit to Moscow. On the first day, he met with Dmitry Kozak, the Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, who oversees the directions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in the Administration. Bzhania also met with the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, Rashid Nurgaliyev, the Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Novak, the Transport Minister, Vitaly Saveliev, and the Sports Minister, Oleg Matitsin.
Government Officials Visit the Tskhinvali Region
A delegation of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development chaired by the Deputy Minister, Dmitry Volvach, paid a two-day working visit to the Tskhinvali region on October 1. On the first day of the visit, the Russian delegation visited the Tskhinvali N 3 public school. On the same day, a working meeting on the socio-economic cooperation between Russia and the Tskhinvali region was held with the participation of the de facto President, Anatoly Bibilov. The next day, the Russian delegation, together with the de facto Prime Minister of the Tskhinvali region, Gennady Bekoev, visited the South Ossetian State University and a new maternity hospital in Tskhinvali.
Military Exercises
Military exercises at the 7th military base in Abkhazia
Military exercises at the 4th military base in Abkhazia
A detailed review of the activities of the Russian Military forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in October 2021 can be found here.
“Border” Demarcation
The sixth session of the Delimitation and Demarcation Commission of the Tskhinvali Region and Russia ended on October 1. The sides discussed the demarcation of the “state border” between the Tskhinvali region and Russia and approved the working plan for 2022. The Commission was established in 2012, and the first session was held in Moscow, in September 2018.
Russian Duma Ratifies an Agreement with the Tskhinvali Region
On October 21, the State Duma of the Russian Federation ratified an agreement with the Tskhinvali region. The agreement provides for the mutual recognition of the military service seniority. The document was signed on January 10 this year, by the Russian Defense Minister, Sergey Shoigu, and the de facto Defense Minister of the Tskhinvali region, Ibragim Gaseev. The agreement provides salary and pension supplements to both contracted and retired servicemen.
Cooperation in the Customs Field
Meeting Between the “Customs” Services
In Sochi, a meeting was held with the participation of the Representative of the Customs Service of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia, Konstantin Kozlov, and representatives of the de facto Customs Committee of Abkhazia. The meeting summed up the work done during the 2021 holiday season. In total, 9.6 million individuals and more than 2 million vehicles have crossed the checkpoint since the beginning of the year till now.
Cooperation Between the “Customs” Agencies
Within the framework of the Moscow International Customs Forum 2021, three agreements were signed by Otar Khetsia, the de facto Chairman of the Abkhaz Customs Committee, and Ruslan Davidov, the Acting Chairman of the Russian Federal Customs Service.
Catamaran Connecting Sochi-Sokhumi
The passenger high-speed catamaran Griffon of the Russian company Vodokhod Express, accommodating 120 passegners, will connect Sochi and Sokhumi for the first time after a 29-year hiatus. On October 10, the catamaran docked at the Sokhumi port on a test route. As the Head of the company, Mikhail Antoshin, noted the start of passenger traffic was scheduled for June but due to the pandemic the plan failed. The traffic will be launched from May 1 to October 1, 2022.
Catamaran Connecting Sochi-Sokhumi. Source: abkhazinform.com
Insurance for Tourists
The first meeting of the Abkhaz-Russian working group on insurance issues was held in Moscow. The Abkhaz side was represented by the de facto Minister of Tourism, Teimuraz Khishba. The main topic of discussion was the insurance for tourists from Russia on the territory of Abkhazia.
Russia’s “Soft Power”
Master Class of a Russian Journalist
On October 20, Alexander Zinenko held a master class for Abkhaz students and journalists. Zinenko is a Russian journalist, documentary filmmaker and a member of the Board of Experts at the V. Posner School. The event was organized by the Union of Journalists of Abkhazia.
Abkhaz “State” Ensemble of National Dance in the Russian Festival
The state ensemble of Abkhazian national dance Caucasus participated in the XI International Festival of National cultures. The festival was held in the city of Satka, Chelyabinsk Oblast.
World Congress of Russian Compatriots
The Tskhinvali region took part in the VII World Congress of Russian Compatriots. The Congress was held in Moscow, on October 15-16. The event was attended by more than 400 delegates from 102 countries. Representatives of the Rossy and the Union of Russian Citizen organization participated in the Congress from the region. The topic of the forum was Russia and Compatriots in a Changing World.