Publication: N4 / Review period: October-December, 2021 /Author: Ani Zirakashvili
Review of Russia’s Soft Power in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region is being prepared within the framework of the project - Roadmap to the Kremlin's Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. The purpose of the publication is to review important developments related to Russia's soft power in these regions and activities that the Kremlin uses to strengthen its influence in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. The review is a quarterly publication and will be useful for everyone – decision-makers, public employees, media representatives and other people who are interested in the Kremlin’s policy in the occupied regions of Georgia.
Russia’s Soft Power in Abkhazia
Education
- Abkhaz students will soon be able to study at the Russian Children’s Online University. The relevant platform was jointly developed by the Rossotrudnichestvo office in Abkhazia and the South-West State University (in Russia). The university will have three levels: for children aged 7-9, 9-11 and 11-14. Courses will be paid. Online applications are being accepted at this stage.
- On November 10, the first stage of the Sochi-Sokhumi Russian-Abkhazian forum was held in the Sochi State University. A total of 25 students of the Abkhaz "State" University took part in the joint volunteer forum. The second phase of the forum started on November 17 and included 3-day trainings.
- A total of 15 entrants from Abkhazia will study Acting Art at the Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School. The qualifying competition started on December 2 and lasted till December 4. A commission invited from Russia assessed the entrants.
- Three Abkhaz students will undergo internship and advanced training courses in Russia under the program of the Future of Abkhazia public organization. The initiative is supported by the “Ministry” of Foreign Affairs.
- On December 10, in Moscow, the "Minister" of Education and Language Policy of Abkhazia, Inal Gablia, met with the President of the Russian Academy of Education, Olga Vasileva, and her deputy, Gennady Onishchenko. Reportedly, the entities will sign a cooperation agreement.
Culture
- The state ensemble of Abkhazian national dance Caucasus participated in the XI International Festival of National cultures – Sinegorye. The festival was held in the city of Satka, Chelyabinsk Oblast.
- A preliminary premiere of a film about the Great Patriotic War took place in Sokhumi, on December 9. The film Search was shot with the financial support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The investment in this direction is aimed at raising awareness of compatriots living abroad about the Great Patriotic War and the process of searching for the missing in the war.
Activities of Non-Governmental Organizations
- On October 7, a conference of Russian compatriots was held in Abkhazia. The conference summarized the results of the current year and outlined plans for 2022-2023. The conference re-elected Oleg Yurchenko as the Chairman. The conference was organized by the Coordination Council of Organizations of Russian Compatriots (КСОРС).
- On October 20 and 22, Alexander Zinenko held a master class for Abkhaz students and journalists. Mr. Zinenko is a Russian journalist, documentary filmmaker and a member of the Board of Experts at the V. Posner School. He delivered public lectures – Personality close-ups in documentaries and Historical Film Documentary. The event was organized by the Union of Journalists of Abkhazia.
- In an interview with the Sputnik Abkhazia radio, Mikhail Masayev, the Acting Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo office in Abkhazia, said that in 2022 Russia will increase education quotas for Abkhaz entrants wishing to study in Russian higher educational institutions to 90.
- A meeting between the Russian military journalist, Anton Stepanenko, and students of the Abkhaz "State" University was held on November 15 and 16. Topics of discussion were the specifics of military journalism and Journalists and the War. Stepanenko is a news anchor on the Россия -24 news channel and a military correspondent on ВГТРК. He also worked as a special correspondent for the Россия 1 channel.
- A round table discussion on the Participation of Russian compatriots in the public life of Abkhazia was held in Sokhumi, on December 2. The issue of their cooperation with the official representatives of the Russian Federation was also discussed. The event was organized by the Platform Cultural Foundation and supported by the Rossotrudnichestvo office in Abkhazia.
Celebrating Historical Dates
- Victory and Independence Day was celebrated on September 30. The “President” of the Tskhinvali region, Anatoly Bibilov, also attended the events. The de facto Presidents laid flowers at the memorial of the Park of Glory. Over 500 people participated in a military parade on this date.


Anatoly Bibilov in Abkhazia. Source: sputnik-abkhazia.ru
Other Events
- The Future of Abkhazia youth centre will be opened in the “Embassy” of Abkhazia in Moscow. The project will be implemented in early 2022. Its purpose is to provide targeted support to young people. Abkhaz youth living in Russia or Abkhazia will be assisted in such matters as submitting documents to Russian universities, undergoing internships and advanced training courses, temporary employment in Russia, etc.
Russia’s Soft Power in the Tskhinvali Region
Education
- On November 14, the Geographical Dictation was held at the so-called South Ossetian State University. The event was attended by 40 people. The region is participating in this event for the fourth time. Sergey Skvortsov, the Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo office, also attended it. Rossotrudnichestvo representatives will check the tests and upload the scores on the appropriate platform. The event initiator is the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
- On November 18-19, a total of 24 students of the “State” University participated in a Russian forum. The Leader 2021 Youth Educational-Patriotic Forum was held in Stavropol. The forum discussed the topics such as upbringing the individual, the development of legal awareness and civic identity, patriotism, and love for the motherland, etc.
- On November 22-25, a total of 13 students of the “State” University participated in the Pyatigorsk Youth Forum for Russian language teachers. Within the framework of the forum, the I Know Russian Olympiad was held, the winners and laureates of which were awarded with diplomas and prizes.
- The Zvezda Russian Olympiad was held on November 30. A total of 109 students interested in engineering participated in the Olympiad. On December 9, the Ural State University hosted an online Russian language Olympiad.
- On December 10-16, a total of four representatives of the region participated in the New Realities - New Opportunities youth forum which was simultaneously held in two cities of Belarus - Minsk and Gomel. The candidacies of the participants were approved by the non-governmental organizations Rossi and the Union of Russian Citizens.
- The Literary Institute named after A. M. Gorky invites entrants from the Tskhinvali region to continue their studies at the Faculty of Literary Translation in Russia. A separate faculty will be established at the institute for Ossetian entrants. The institute is ready to provide scholarships and accommodation for students, and tuition will be free for them.
- The Moscow Automobile and Road Construction State Technical University (MADI) invites entrants from the Tskhinvali region. The Tskhinvali University is holding the All Roads Lead to MADI 2022 competition to select students. The winners will be eligible for free tuition, with the Russian state funding, and will also receive a scholarship.
- The State University of the Tskhinvali region continues to cooperate with the North Caucasus Federal University (NCFU). On December 6, a working meeting was held between heads of the mentioned institutions. The parties discussed current issues of cooperation, including information policy, training courses, future plans, activities implemented this year, etc.
- The de facto Ministry of Education and Science invites entrants to participate in the Russian Unified State Exam-2022. Those interested will be able to pass the exams in North Ossetia.
Culture
- Tamerlan Dzurtsov, the Artistic Director of the K. Khetagurov State Theatre of the Tskhinvali region, was awarded with a diploma of the Guild of Russian Playwrights. The diploma was presented to Mr. Dzurtsov by the General Director of the Guild, Yuri Butunin, at the Bulamarg Literary Award Ceremony in Moscow.
- On December 6, on the territory of the Tskhinvali N9 school, a bust of the hero of the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of Mongolia, Issa Pliev, was unveiled. The ceremony was attended by the “President” Anatoly Bibilov and the Russian “Ambassador,” Marat Kulakhmetov, as well as representatives of the de facto government, schoolteachers, and locals. This is the second bust of a military serviceman to be erected in the region.



The Bust Unveil. Source: sputnik-ossetia.ru
Activities of Non-Governmental Organizations
- The Tskhinvali region took part in the VII World Congress of Russian Compatriots. The Congress was held in Moscow, on October 15-16. Representatives of the Rossi and the Union of Russian Citizen organization participated in the congress from the region. The slogan of the forum was Russia and Compatriots in a Changing World.
- According to the Rossotrudnichestvo office, the region takes an active part in various events and competitions organized by Russian scientific and cultural-educational organizations. Noteworthy is the region’s participation in the Great Ethnographic Dictation on November 3-7, and the Moscow in the Heart of Everyone international children's creativity competition.
- The Rossotrudnichestvo office handed over up to 3,000 textbooks of Russian language and literature to the "Ministry" of Education and Science of the Tskhinvali region. The textbooks are designed for schoolchildren in grades 1-11. The initiative was implemented within the framework of the Russian state program for the Development of Education.
Celebrating Historical Dates
- November 23 marked the Day of Courage and National Unity. A solemn meeting was held at the entrance to Tskhinvali, where the “President,” Anatoly Bibilov, addressed the audience. He called on the participants of the event to create a public organization that would shed light on the “recent history of South Ossetia.”
- December 14 commemorates the Lata Tragedy. On this day the “President,” Aslan Bzhania, laid flowers at the monument to the victims, and visited the “State” Museum, where photos depicting the tragedy are exhibited.
Russia’s soft power is an instrument of foreign policy, which the Kremlin actively uses to increase its influence abroad, including in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. Offices of the Federal Agency for CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs ensure the implementation of Russia’s soft power policy in the occupied regions of Georgia. Vadim Chekha was the Head of the Agency office in Abkhazia and Sergey Skvortsov is the Head of the Agency office in the Tskhinvali region