Publication: N11 / Review period: July-September, 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 July 19, an event dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky was held in Sokhumi. The event was organized by the representation office of the Federal Agency for CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs (hereinafter – “Russian House”) in Abkhazia and took place in the Moscow House cultural center. Mayakovsky's visits to Abkhazia were remembered at the literary evening.
Education
- The Alexander Solzhenitsyn House of Russia Abroad donated a large amount of fiction books to the Papaskiri National Library. This organization actively works and helps Russian compatriots living abroad.
- With the support of the Russian Ministry of Education, the third batch of textbooks was sent to the 8th and 9th graders in the occupied Abkhazia. Abkhazia received a total of 32,479 textbooks.
"Hello, Russia!"
- Within the framework of the “Hello, Russia!” program, students from six schools of the occupied Abkhazia traveled to Moscow and the Samara region. The schoolchildren also took part in a flashmob dedicated to the Day of the State Flag of Russia. The “Hello, Russia!” educational program has been financed by Russian House. The program provides for introducing young people aged 14-19 to the sights of Russia.
Abkhaz Schoolchildren Participating in the Program
Celebrating Russian Holidays
- The Day of the State Flag of Russia was celebrated in the Moscow House in Sokhumi. The event was organized by the Moscow government. At the event, the Second Secretary of the Russian “Embassy” in Abkhazia, Denis Lavrikov, delivered a lecture on the history of the creation of the Russian flag.
Celebrating the Day of the State Flag of Russia
- A swimming competition dedicated to Moscow City Day was held in Sokhumi.
Healthcare
- In July, the Moscow House office in Sokhumi donated medical supplies to the city polyclinics of the occupied Gali and Sokhumi. This assistance was provided within the framework of the “Support Program for Compatriots Living Abroad” which is funded by the Moscow government. In June 2022, Moscow House also provided medical assistance to the Ochamchire Central District Hospital.
Russia’s Soft Power in the Tskhinvali Region
New Head of Russian House
- Sergey Skvortsov, the Head of the Russian House office in the occupied Tskhinvali region, completed his 5-year tenure in the region. The de facto President of the region, Alan Gagloyev, thanked Skvortsov for his work and awarded him the “Order of Friendship” for strengthening friendly relations between Russia and the region. On August 22, the Russian “Ambassador” in the Tskhinvali region, Marat Kulakhmetov, presented to Gagloyev a new Head of the Russian House, Sergey Komissarov.
Presenting Sergey Komissarov
Education
- This year, a total of ten entrants from the Tskhinvali region were admitted to academies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. They will be sent to the Volgograd Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the Nizhny Novgorod Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the Oryol Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Their study is fully funded by the Russian government, and after the graduation, according to the contract, they will return to work in the Tskhinvali region. Entrants have had this opportunity since 2009, after a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the de facto agency of the region.
- Graduates from military schools of the Ministry of Defense of Russia returned to the Tskhinvali region. They were met by the de facto Minister of Defense, Marat Pavlov. The graduates were awarded the rank of “lieutenant.” This year, 21 students from South Ossetia graduated from higher educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, two of them with excellency.
Graduates of Military Schools of the Ministry of Defense of Russia
- Russian House summarized the 2023-24 academic year and stated that in accordance with the quotas, 23 entrants from the occupied region were admitted to Russian higher education institutions. A third of them specialize in medicine.
- Within the framework of a memorandum concluded between the de facto republic and the Russian Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights, psychologists and speech therapists from the Russian Center for Curative Pedagogy visited the occupied region. They provided training to local teachers.
- Journalists from the Tskhinvali region took part in the SputnikPro educational project which was hosted by the Russia Today platform.
Youth Camps
- Within the framework of the Russian-funded project - People of Artek, a total of 15 schoolchildren went to a summer camp in Artek. The Artek summer camp brought together about 50 schoolchildren from different countries, who are winners of various competitions organized by Russian House. Artek is located in the Russian-occupied Crimea.
Participants of the “People of Artek“ Summer Camp
- In September, ten children from the occupied region spent three weeks in the Zeg rehabilitation camp, in Moscow region. This camp is financed by the Russian government. Children’s trip took place within the framework of the cooperation memorandum concluded between the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights of the de facto republic and Russia. Children from the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine were also in the camp.
Healthcare
- On August 26, the Russian Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, whose arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, visited the occupied region. During the visit, Belova met with Gagloyev and said that Russia will help the region in providing medical services to children in Russian clinics.
15th Anniversary of the Recognition
- A new film “Independent” was released on the 15th anniversary of the recognition of the independence of the Tskhinvali region by Russia. The film tells about the process of recognition of the de facto republic and the Russian peacekeepers “who protected South Ossetia.” The film director, Timur Kusovia is the Chairman of the Union of Journalists of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alanya. The film was screened at the Russian propaganda TV - Россия 1.
- A special edition of Russian Word in South Ossetia magazine, dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the recognition of the region occupied by Russia, was presented in Tskhinvali.
New Edition of Russian Word in South Ossetia Magazine
Opening of the Edamenko Monument
- In the region, a monument was unveiled to the hero of Russia, holder of the Order of Uatsamonga, Vladimir Edamenko. Alan Gagloyev and the so-called Russian Ambassador Marat Kulakhmetov were present at the ceremony. According to Ossetian media, “In the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war, Edamenko was the commander of a unit which provided air cover for a tank convoy of the 58th Russian Army. On August 9, in the Java region, Russian pilots confronted two MiG-29s of the Georgian Defense Forces. Russian pilots began to maneuver to escape from Georgian pilots, at which time the Buk anti-aircraft missile complex of the Georgian Defense Forces destroyed Edamenko's Su-25.”