Publication:  N37 / Review period:  January 1-31, 2022

Overview of the 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.

“President” Bibilov in Moscow

As reported on January 14, Anatoly Bibilov, the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, was on a working visit in Moscow, Russia. He had several meetings in the Russian Presidential Administration, during which the issues of implementation of the state socio-economic development program for 2022-2025 were discussed. Other details of the meetings are unknown. However, most likely, Bibilov's main goal was to gain Kremlin’s support for the “presidential elections” which are scheduled for April.

“President” Bzhania Underwent a Surgery 

The de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, paid his first visit to Russia this year due to health problems. After several days of silence, Bzhania's representative said that the de facto President successfully underwent kidney surgery at one of Russian clinics. Bzhania's health has long been a topic of discussion in Abkhazia. Part of the public suspects that his health condition is not conducive to the performance of his duties, and his frequent "disappearance" in Russia is related to medical treatment.

Meeting in Moscow

On January 31, a meeting of the working group on the implementation of the “Program for the Formation of a Common Socio-Economic Space between Abkhazia and Russia” was held in Moscow. The Abkhaz delegation was chaired by the de facto Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy, Kristina Ozgan. The main host from the Russian delegation was the Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Volvach. The issues of legal regulation of cooperation in the field of investment, tax, education, customs, and healthcare were discussed at the meeting. The goal of the program is to further integrate Abkhazia into the Russian legal space.

Meeting in Moscow. Source: apsnypress.info

Military Exercises

On January 27, anti-terrorist exercises started in Sokhumi. The exercises will end on February 5. According to the Head of the “Security Service,” Robert Kiut, the Abkhaz-Russian anti-terrorist exercises in Sokhumi involve up to 500 members of the Abkhaz Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the State Protection Service, and the Russian Federal Security Service. It is interesting that the exercises are being held in Abkhazia against the backdrop of internal political confrontation. Parliamentary elections will be held in Abkhazia on March 12. There is an opinion that with the exercises the “government” is trying to demonstrate force.

Military Exercises at the 7th Military Base in Abkhazia

• Preparations for the International Army Games 2022 (Army-2022) started at the 7th military base. Servicemen of a reconnaissance unit are preparing for the Excellence in Military Intelligence competition.

Other News of the 4th Military Base 

• Recruits joined the 4th military base. They are graduates of higher military educational institutions of the Russian Federation. The young officers were provided with living spaces in the garrisons of the district. More than 1400 people graduated from the mentioned institutions in 2021.

A detailed review of the activities of the Russian Military forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in January 2022 can be found here.

Moscow Marks the 300th Anniversary of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office

Moscow celebrated the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation. An Abkhazian delegation chaired by the de facto Prosecutor General, Adgur Agrba, also took part in the event.

Celebration event. Source: abkhazinform.com

Russian MP Visited Abkhazia

A member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Kazbek Taisayev, paid a working visit to Abkhazia. He is the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the State Duma and the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party. Kazbek Taisayev met with the de facto Prime Minister of Abkhazia, Aleksander Ankvab, as well as with Abkhaz communists. At the meeting, the most prominent communists of the de facto republic were awarded the Medals of Honor.

Cooperation with Regions of Russia

Krasnodar Krai Donates Flour to Abkhazia

Krasnodar Krai will donate three thousand tons of flour to Abkhazia. The provision of the humanitarian aid was an initiative of the Governor of Krasnodar Krai, Veniamin Kondratyev. A total of 14 wagons of the assistance was already distributed in the cities and districts of Abkhazia. The last batch of aid will arrive in late March. As a token of gratitude, the Abkhaz Ministry of Agriculture sent three tons of mandarins and 20 boxes of local wine to the Administration of Krasnodar Krai and the Tikhoretsky plant. The opposition accused the government of bribing voters by distributing flour during the pre-election period. 

Tskhinvali and Samara Regions Discussed Issues of Cooperation

Representatives of the de facto authorities of the Tskhinvali region discussed with representatives of the Samara region of the Russian Federation the issues of cooperation in  trade, socio-economic and cultural fields. The discussion was held online.

Russia’s “Soft Power”

Teacher of the Year Winter School was Held in Sokhumi

On January 4-9, 2022, the Teacher of the Year international winter school was held in Sokhumi. Ossetian, Abkhaz and Russian teachers participated in the event. The winter school is a Russian educational project that brings together teachers who have won competitions in Russia and the region. 

Abkhaz Cadets Will Study at Educational Iinstitutions of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs

Abkhaz cadets will study at higher education institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The cadets could select one from four specialized institutions. Before leaving for school, they took the oath. The solemn event was held at the training center of the de facto Ministry of Internal Affairs of Abkhazia on January 10.

АПРЯЛ Session in Tskhinvali

On January 22, in Tskhinvali, a meeting of the Presidium of the Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (АПРЯЛ) was held at the so-called State University of South Ossetia. The plans for 2022 were discussed during the meeting. 

Office of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly Will Be Opened in the Tskhinvali Region

On January 24, in Moscow, the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Tskhinvali region, Dmitry Medoev, met with  Andrey Belyaninov, the Secretary General of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly. As a result of the meeting, an agreement was signed according to which the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly will open its office in the Tskhinvali region.

Meeting with Assembly representatives. Source: sputnik-ossetia.ru