Monthly Review

Review of the Kremlin Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region

2023 / 09 / 04

Publication:  N56 / Review period:  August 1-31, 2023 / Author: Arsen Araqelov

Review 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.

15 Years Since the Russian-Georgian War: Statements

In August, the 15th anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war was commemorated in the Russian-occupied regions. Mourning events were held on this date. High-ranking Russian officials also commented on the August war, and representatives of Russia and other de facto republics visited breakaway regions of Georgia.

Statement of the "Embassy" of the Tskhinvali Region in Russia

On August 7, the “Embassy” of the Tskhinvali region in Russia appealed to embassies of all countries accredited in Russia and to the Georgian Interests Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Russia. The “Embassy” statement called on the countries to recognize “the aggression committed by the Georgian authorities against the Ossetian people in 2008 and to punish the perpetrators.”

Statement of Mikhail Shurgalin

On August 8, the Russian “Ambassador” to the occupied Abkhazia, Mikhail Shurgalin, attended an event held in the “Embassy” of the Tskhinvali region in Abkhazia. At the event, Shurgalin said that in 2008 “it became obvious that neo-Nazis could not be fought with words alone and they must be eradicated by force of arms which Russia did in South Ossetia and thus protected Abkhazia.” In addition, Shurgalin noted that Russia, together with the Abkhaz and Ossetian people, is continuing this struggle in Ukraine where it is destroying the remaining Georgian formations which attacked peaceful Tskhinvali and tried to destroy the Ossetian people.

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

On August 8, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia issued a statement responding to the 15th anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war. The statement reads that on the night of August 7-8, by an order of the then president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, the Security Forces of Georgia “launched a special operation to establish constitutional order in South Ossetia” which resulted in numerous civilian casualties, with Russian citizens among; “Russia forced the aggressor country to stop the operation,” then recognized Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region as independent republics, and took responsibility for their protection.

Feedback from Dmitry Medvedev

On August 8, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and the President of Russia in 2008, Dmitry Medvedev, responded to the Russian-Georgian war on his Telegram channel. In the statement, Medvedev refers to the then president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, with insulting words and claims that “behind Saakashvili stood the collective West which already then sought to create chaos at the Russian border.” The Russian Armed Forces were able to punish the “brazen nationalists” in five days, and now they will achieve the same victory in Ukraine, the statement reads.

Statement of Maria Zakharova

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zakharova, also responded to the events of August 2008 and voiced the Kremlin's narrative. Zakharova noted that Russia's position is unchanged, and an agreement on non-use of force with Georgia will be the basis for lasting security in the Caucasus.

15 Years Since the Recognition of the De Facto Republics of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region by Russia: Statements and Visits

On August 26, 2008, Russia recognized Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region as independent states. This date has been solemnly celebrated in the occupied regions since then. August of 2023 was no exception, numerous solemn events were held and representatives of the legislative, executive, and regional authorities of Russia visited the occupied regions. Delegations of the Russian Federation Council and the Russian State Duma were among the guests of honor.

Meeting with Dmitry Medvedev

On August 25, to mark the anniversary, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, met with the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloyev, and the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, in Moscow. Medvedev congratulated the de facto leaders on August 26 and noted that the decision made by Russia in 2008 was not easy, although brought peace to the region.

Statements and Responses of Dmitry Medvedev

Before the meeting with Bzhania and Gagloyev, Medvedev gave an interview to the Russian media where he talked about the August war. In the interview, he admitted the possibility of uniting the occupied regions with Russia, even though the Kremlin does not share this approach at this stage.

Responses from Sokhumi and Tskhinvali followed the statement, positions of which differed from each other. The Secretary of the de facto Security Council of Abkhazia, Sergey Shamba, said that Abkhazia is in favor of developing allied relations with Russia and is ready to discuss various forms of relations. At the same time, there are no political forces in Abkhazia which declare their desire to join Russia, he added.

In contrast to Sokhumi's stance, during a meeting with Medvedev, Gagloyev publicly voiced that the region is ready for integration with Russia in the presence of appropriate geopolitical conditions.

In addition, in an interview with TASS, Medvedev stated that he hopes that the Georgian government will show pragmatism and recognize the de facto republics. The current government of Georgia “at least stands out for its pragmatism,” he added. Medvedev also noted that despite the current conflict, historically Georgian, Ossetian and Abkhaz people were brother nations, and it is necessary for the central government of Georgia to establish relations with the occupied regions.

Meeting of Alan Gagloyev and Aslan Bzhania with Dmitry Medvedev

Congratulation of Vladimir Putin

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, congratulated both Aslan Bzhania and Alan Gagloyev on the day of recognition of de facto republics. Putin's congratulatory letters mentioned the importance of the decision taken by Russia in 2008, discussed the results achieved by the de facto republics in 15 years, and emphasized Russia's future unwavering support to the de facto governments of the occupied regions of Georgia.

Video Bridge: Moscow-Tskhinvali

The Russian “Ambassador” in the Tskhinvali region, Marat Kulakhmetov, the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs, Akhsar Jioev, and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the Russian State Duma, Artyom Turov, participated in a video bridge which was held on August 25. The online meeting was dedicated to August 26, the parties assessed the 15-year development stages and perspectives of the occupied region.

Visits and Meetings

Aslan Bzhania's Visit to Moscow

On August 23, the President of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, met with the Head of the Russian Federal Tax Service, Danil Igorov, in Moscow. At the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects of cooperation and the possibilities of introducing Russian technologies in the Tax Service Administration of the de facto republic.

Meeting of Alan Gagloyev with Rashid Nurgaliyev

On August 25, the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloyev, met with the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Rashid Nurgaliyev, who also supervises the occupied regions of Georgia in the Council.

Meeting Between Rashid Nurgaliyev and Alan Gagloyev

Meeting with Mikhail Galuzin

On August 14, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Mikhail Galuzin, held a meeting with the “Ambassador” of the de facto republics of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in Russia, Alkhas Kvitsinia and Znaur Gassiev. At the meeting, the parties discussed the results achieved after the recognition of the de facto republics by Russia and noted the importance of further development of the alliance.

Mikhail Galuzin Meets with “Ambassadors”

Aslan Bzhania Meets with Yana Lantratova

On August 4, Aslan Bzhania met with a deputy of the Russian State Duma, Yana Lantratova, who was vacationing with her family in the occupied Abkhazia. Lantratova is the Executive Secretary of the Russian Human Rights Council and the First Deputy Chairman of the Education Committee of the Russian State Duma. She is the coordinator of a group of deputies in the State Duma for relations with the de facto parliament of the Tskhinvali region.

New Chairman of “Russian House”

On August 22, the Russian “Ambassador” in the Tskhinvali region, Marat Kulakhmetov, presented a new Head of the representation office of the Federal Agency for CIS States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied region, Sergey Komissarov, to Alan Gagloyev. In this post, Sergey Komissarov replaced Sergey Skvortsov who completed his five-year tenure in the Tskhinvali region in July 2023.

Alan Gagloyev Meets with Sergey Komissarov and Marat Kulakhmetov

Orders to Russian High-Ranking Officials

To mark the 15th anniversary of Russia's recognition of the de facto republic of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloyev awarded several Russian high-ranking officials. In particular, by Gagloyev's order, Dmitry Medvedev was awarded the highest “state award” – the Order of “Uatsamonga” for “outstanding service in repelling the Georgian aggression” and for his contribution to the independence of the “Republic.”

Igor Maslov, the Head of the Directorate for Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries of the Russian Presidential Administration, was awarded the Order of Friendship. The Order of Honor was awarded to Sergey Chebotarev, the Head of the Secretariat of the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia. Chebotarev has an extensive experience of relations with the de facto leaders of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.

The Order of Honor was also awarded to the Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, Dmitry Kozak, who supervises the occupied regions of Georgia. In addition, Gagloyev awarded the Order of Honor to Sergey Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, and the Order of Friendship - to the Russian Ombudsperson for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, whose arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.