Publication: N10 / Review period: April-June, 2023 / Author: Arsen Araqelov
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
Culture
- On April 7-10, Moscow hosted tours of the Fazil Iskander State Russian Theater. The theater performed six plays based on works of world and Abkhaz literature.
- As the Russian Deputy Minister of Culture, Alla Manilova, announced, the Russian government will allocate financial support for Russian theaters in different regions of the world in 2023. The Fazil Iskander State Russian Theater in the occupied Abkhazia will also benefit from the assistance. It should be noted that the Griboedov State Russian Drama Theater in Tbilisi was also included in the list of beneficiary theaters, however, its director, Nikolay Sventitsky, refused to receive the said aid.
- On April 13, the Moscow House in Sokhumi hosted a festival of Russian culture and language which exhibited over 300 books of Russian literature.
Victory Day
- On May 9, Victory Day in World War II was solemnly celebrated in the occupied Abkhazia. The Immortal Regiment march and military parade took place in the de facto republic with the participation of 600 Abkhaz and Russian soldiers. According to the Abkhaz media, more than 55 thousand people from Abkhazia fought in World War II and 17 thousand of them were considered dead. Currently, a total of 20 veterans of the Patriotic War live in the occupied Abkhazia.
Immortal Regiment in Sokhumi
- From April 25 to May 9, the occupied Abkhazia hosted the St. George’s Ribbon action.
- The Volunteers of the Victory of Abkhazia action dedicated to the 78th anniversary of the victory in World War II was held in Sokhumi. Students of the occupied Gali and Tkvarcheli districts also took part in the event.
Volunteers of the Victory of Abkhazia Action
- Employees of the Russian “Embassy” in the occupied Abkhazia, together with members of the Coordination Council of the Organizations of Russian Compatriots, personally congratulated veterans of World War II on Victory Day. A congratulatory letter from the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, was handed over to them.
Education
- A total of eight entrants from the occupied Abkhazia were admitted to universities of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. Abkhaz entrants have been enrolled in Ministry's schools since 2011.
Other Events
- On May 13, the 2023 horse racing season was opened in the Krasnodar region, and one of the first races was dedicated to those fighters who were killed in the “1992-1993 Patriotic War of the Abkhaz People.”
- On May 24, the Federal Agency for CIS States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs (hereinafter - Russian House), organized an event as part of which students of Sokhumi public schools solemnly celebrated the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture.
Celebration of the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture
- Alexander Pushkin's birthday was celebrated in Sokhumi on June 6. The event was solemnly opened by the Russian “Ambassador” to the occupied Abkhazia, Mikhail Shurgalin. During the address he said that “while a fierce war for a new world order is ongoing, it is important to remember Pushkin, who gave us such a joy as communication in modern Russian.” By a decision of the then President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, Pushkin's birthday has been considered as a state holiday since 2011.
Russia’s Soft Power in the Tskhinvali Region
Culture
- The Russian House organized a presentation of the international competition for young people - People of Artek. The international campaign precedes the 2025 celebration of the centenary of Artek, an international children's camp located in the Russian-annexed Crimea.
- The 150th anniversary of the Russian composer, pianist and conductor, Sergei Rachmaninoff, was celebrated in the Java region. Considering the anniversary date, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, declared 2023 as the year of Rachmaninoff.
- On May 15-16, the President of the de facto republic of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloyev, visited the Republic of Chechnya to celebrate the Days of Ossetian Culture. The leader of the Republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, gave monetary awards to two ensembles which arrived in Chechnya as part of the Days of Ossetian Culture. The Kosta Khetagurov State Drama Theater received RUB 1 million and the Galayev State Ensemble – RUB 2 million as a gift. The de facto Minister of Culture, Rada Dzagoeva, who during the visit also met with the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Chechnya, Kadyrov's daughter Aishat Kadyrova, was presented with a medal for Service to the Republic of Chechnya.
- The Russian House organized a celebration of the Russian Language Day in the occupied region. The Head of the Russian House office in the Tskhinvali region, Sergey Skvortsov, also attended the event. He noted that “now many people are trying to do impossible – cross out Russian culture from the world. They, of course, will not succeed because even in Europe people continue to read Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, etc.”
- The State University of South Ossetia hosted a screening of a film “ the Value of the World. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.” The film tells the story of a husband and a wife accused of “atomic espionage” in favor of the Soviet Union. The couple were charged with transferring classified information about US nuclear weapons to the Soviet Union.
Victory Day
- May 9, the day of victory over fascism, was celebrated in the occupied region with various large-scale events. On May 8, garlands of glory and memory were put at the Eternal Flame in the Alley of Fame. The largest event of the Victory Day celebration was the Immortal Regiment action which was held on the central street of Tskhinvali on May 9. Participants of the march held portraits of 27 dead who died while fighting on the side of Russia in Ukraine in 2022 and those Ossetian fighters who died in 1989-2008.
Immortal Regiment Action
- The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, congratulated residents of the occupied region on Victory Day and noted that this day is a symbol of courage, heroism and friendly cooperation for both Russia and the de facto republic.
- Schools of the occupied region joined the Victory Dictation international historical action which is dedicated to the history of the Patriotic War and is held annually in more than 40 countries. Last year, over 1.5 million people participated in the action.
- Pupils of the occupied Tskhinvali schools, with the organizational support of the Russian “Embassy,” held a patriotic campaign - Window of Victory. As part of the campaign, they placed portraits of soldiers participating in the Patriotic War on windows of their houses. The patriotic campaign Window of Victory was also held in Russia.
Window of Victory Participants
Education
- The Russian House donated 570 books to the Children's Library in the Tskhinvali region. The assistance is not a one-time, the Russian House periodically provides various types of literature to the occupied regions, and 570 books were transferred to the library as part of a Russian government project - Development of Education.
Sergey Skvortsov in the Children's Library
Other Events
- April 12, the Aviation and Cosmonautics Day was celebrated in the Children's Republican Library. The event was organized by the Russian House. First graders of the Tskhinvali Public school No. 2 and Sergey Skvortsov attended the event. The pupils were introduced to Russia's achievements in aviation and cosmonautics, they were told the story about the flight of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and about an ethnically Ossetian pilot, Akhmat Gasiyev, who was the one of the first people to meet Gagarin after the flight.
- A solemn week was also announced in the Tskhinvali Public school No. 12, named after Yuri Gagarin, where the Russian House organized a traditional solemn event - We are Gagarinians.
Aviation and Cosmonautics Day in the School Named after Gagarin
- The Scientific Institute of South Ossetia hosted a presentation of a monograph by Alexander Jabiev, the Senior Scientist-Researcher. The monograph - Formation of Interstate Relations of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation, is dedicated to the overview of the development of the de facto republic and its relations with Russia in 2008-2022. It should be noted that Jabiev worked in the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and other public agencies.
Monograph
- On June 12, Russia Day was solemnly celebrated in Tskhinvali. This date has even been declared as a holiday in the occupied region since 2005. The Russian House organized number of events, including a children's event - Russia through the eyes of children of South Ossetia.
One of the Winning Paintings
One of the Winning Paintings
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. Dmitry Fedotov is the Head of the Agency office in Abkhazia and Sergey Skvortsov is the Head of the Agency office in the Tskhinvali region.