In July 2019, Vladislav Surkov visited Abkhazia after a long lapse. Security Services of Tskhinvali Region and Russia agreed on cooperation. Russian energy company „Rosneft“ is expanding its business in Tskhinvali. You will be able to learn about important developments of July 2019, connected to the Kremlin’s policies in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region.

July 2019 Important Developments Shortly:

• Curator change: Russian experienced diplomat, curator to Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region, Grigory Karasin retires.
• Curators visit: Assistant to the President of Russian Federation visited Abkhazia one month ahead to the illegitimate parliamentary elections.
• Military exercises: Russian servicemen dislocated in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region participated in number of military exercises.
• Cooperation in the field of security: Security Services of Tskhinvali Region and Russia agreed on cooperation.
• Cooperation in the field of law enforcement: the 3rd anniversary of formation Joint Information-Coordination Center of the Ministries of Internal Affairs was celebrated in Tskhinvali Region.
• Clearing Tskhinvali Region from explosive devices: In Tskhinvali Region Russian specialists cleared 130 hectares of the territory from explosive devices.
• Cooperation in the field of economy: Russian energy company „Rosneft“ constructed the first filling station in Tskhinvali Region.
• Russian funding: For 2022, Russia will allocate 1.5 billion RUB for construction of housing complexes in Tskhinvali Region.
• Cooperation in the field of healthcare: de facto Minister of Abkhazia tries to enhance cooperation with Russia in the field of healthcare.
• Soft power: Day of Family, Love and Fidelity was Marked in Sukhumi and Tskhinvali

Curator Change

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation, Grigory Karasin, will resign shortly. On August 23, Karasin is turning 70 and under the law can no longer hold office in executive branch. Karasin was appointed as State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in October 2005. He curates relations with post-soviet countries, including Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region direction as well. The alleged substitutes for Karasin are named, with Ivan Volinkin among, current director of the consular department, who previously worked in Georgia.

Curators Visit

Surkov visit

Assistant to the President of Russian Federation, curator to Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region in Kremlin,

Vladislav Surkov, after a long lapse visited Abkhazia. Surkov met with de facto President, Raul Khajimba. At the meeting was discussed issue of implementation of Investment Program promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia for 2017-2019 as well as parameters of Investment Program for 2020-2022. Surkov’s visit to Abkhazia coincided with the significant period in Abkhazia in terms of its internal politics. On August 25, 2019, illegitimate presidential elections are scheduled in Abkhazia and the purpose of Surkov’s visit, more likely, is related to the pre-election processes.

Visits of high-rank officials of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs

In July, high-rank officials of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs of Russian Federation observed ongoing constructions in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. Director of International Cooperation Department, Anton Melnik, visited Tskhinvali Region in order to inspect ongoing construction activities under the Investment Program. During the visit Melnik discussed the issues of socio-economic cooperation and investment Program for 2020-2022. Deputy Minister, Igor Koshin, paid working visit to Abkhazia. He observed constructions ongoing under the Investment Program promoting Socio-Economic Development of Abkhazia for 2017-2019. Melnik and Koshin frequently visit Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region to control progress of Russian financed projects.

Military Exercises

In July, servicemen of Russian military bases dislocated in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region participated in number of large-scale exercises, including:

• Specialists of communication troops of Southern Military District (SMD) of Russian Federation carried out large-scale exercises. Exercises covered Russian Military bases dislocated in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region.
• Divisions of operative-tactical missile complex "Iskander" of Russian SMD missile units carried out electronic launches. Reconnaissance units of Russian military base dislocated in Tskhinvali Region ensured exact coordinates transmission using unmanned aerial vehicles.
• Motorized infantry advance units of the 58th general military army of Russian SMD carried out landing at the adjacent territories to Mamisoni Pass and Roki Tunnel. Landing party was headed by District Commander, Alexandr Dvornikov.

Military exercises at the 7th military base in Abkhazia

• During the field exercises up to 100 snipers of Russian military base in Abkhazia carried out combat shootings from different types of sniper rifles.
• Military base reconnaissance units’ servicemen elaborated combat-training and special tasks in mountainous and wooded areas.
• Servicemen of unmanned aerial vehicles unit of military base conducted practical exercises to carry out special tasks.

Unmanned aerial vehicles at the 7th military base

Unmanned aerial vehicles practical utilization indicator at the 7th military base of Russian Federation in Abkhazia has been increased by 10% compared to the beginning of the year. Military base servicemen operate 10 modern models of unmanned aerial vehicles („Орлан“, „Застава“, „Гранат“).

The 7th military base other news

• During 6 months period, military servicemen of Russian Federation in Abkhazia utilized about 2 million ammunition while combat trainings. Compared to the same period of previous year ammunition utilization is increased by 15%. Military base servicemen participated in more than 250 tactical exercises and trainings during 6 months.
• Military base police received multilevel modern armored vehicles.
• Kindergarten for 150 children opened at the military base. School will be opened shortly as well.
• The 101th anniversary of the 7th military base foundation was marked in Abkhazia.

Military exercises at the 4th military base in Tskhinvali Region

• Servicemen of Russian and Tskhinvali Region carried out joint exercises at Dzartsemi military polygon. More than 1200 servicemen practiced in destruction of conditional enemy command posts.
• Operative groups of de facto Ministry of Défense of Tskhinvali Region and Russian 4th military base carried out joint field trips.

Cooperation in the Field of Security

On July 26, 2019, Federal Security Service of Russian Federation and so-called Foreign Intelligence Service of Tskhinvali Region, signed agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance. According to the Commander of so-called Foreign Intelligence Service of Tskhinvali Region, Aleksey Varziyev, signing of the agreement will ensure provision federal trainings for staff - combat against international terrorism, detect and eliminate reconnaissance activities, and consequently will result in significant increase of the Service efficiency.

Cooperation in the Field of Law Enforcement

The 3rd  anniversary of signing agreement on „Formation and operation of Joint Information-Coordination Center of the Ministries of Internal Affairs“ was celebrated in Tskhinvali Region. The agreement was signed on July 4, 2016. The center operation in the field of law enforcement, has increased the quality of Tskhinvali Region integration with Russia even more.

Clearing Tskhinvali Region from Explosives

Group of sappers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russian Federation completed clearing of Tskhinvali Region from explosive devices. Totally 1049 unexploded ammunition was found in 4 years. Adjacent territory to Dzari settlement was named as the most dangerous zone.

Cooperation in the Field of Economy

Russia – the largest economic partner to Abkhazia

Foreign trade turnover of de facto Republic of Abkhazia amounted to 11 billion 689 million RUB in the first half of 2019. Compared to the same period of previous year turnover has been increased by 11%. Russia is the largest economic partner to Abkhazia in foreign trade structure. In the first half of 2019, Russia accounted for 56% of total turnover.

„Rosneft“ First Filling Station

Russian energy company „Rosneft“ completed construction of the first filling station in Tskhinvali Region. Construction of the second station will be completed in 2-3 months. Construction issue was agreed between Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, and Igor Sechin, „Rosneft“ Executive Director, during their meeting in 2017. As published on the company website, „Rosneft“ owns filling stations in Abkhazia as well.

Cooperation in the field of customs service

On July 25, 2019, meeting was held between de facto State Customs Committee of Abkhazia and representatives of Federal Customs Service of Russia. At the meeting, roadmap on cooperation in the field of legislation harmonization was signed and problems of the customs checkpoint „Adler““ were discussed.

Russian code for Sukhumi airport

On July 26, 2019, under the decision of de facto government of Abkhazia, aerodrome of „Sukhumi international Airport named after Vladislav Ardzinba“ was granted the status of joint basing aerodrome. The status envisages possibility to jointly use the airport by civil and military aviation. Sokhumi airport reconstruction started in 2018 with the involvement of Russian investor. Investor is to prepare project-cost documentation by August. At the de facto government session was also made decision to assign code – URAS to the airport. The code assignment was based on so-called Aviation Code of Abkhazia and the agreement of February 17, 2010, on cooperation in the field of air transportation between Abkhazia and Russia. The airport was announced part of Rostov’s airspace. However actually nobody assigned the code to the airport as only International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which recognizes territorial integrity of Georgia, is eligible for this action.

Russian Funding

New housing

By 2022, more than 700 families in Tskhinvali Region will be provided new housings under Russian funding. 1.5 billion RUB has been allocated for construction of new housing complexes in Tskhinvali and Region districts in the frames of investment program for 2020-2022.

New buses

Tkvarcheli district received new school buses funded by Russian Federation under investment program promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia. Sokhumi, Gudauta and Ochamchire districts have already received new buses. 162 million RUB have been allocated under investment program to purchase school buses in the regions of Abkhazia.

Cooperation in the Field of Healthcare

De facto Minister of Healthcare, Tamaz Tsakhnakia,  paid working visit to Moscow. The visit aim was to enhance cooperation in the field of healthcare. During the visit Tsakhnakia visited Federal Clinical Center for High Medical Technologies, which has recently conducted medical check-ups for the population of Abkhazia. In 2019 number of meetings have been held to enhance cooperation in the field of healthcare which aims at reducing Abkhazian population dependence on Georgian healthcare system.

Russian Soft Power

27th anniversary of peacekeeping mission

On July 14, 2019, day of “Peacekeeper“ was celebrated in Tskhinvali Region. On June 21, 2019, 25th anniversary of peacekeeping mission launch was marked in Sukhumi.

Quotas in Russia

22 entrants from Tskhinvali Region will study at higher education institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Their study will be state financed and upon graduation will be employed at law enforcement agencies in Tskhinvali Region.

Day of Family, Love and Fidelity

Representatives of „embassy“ of Russian Federation marked day of family, love and fidelity in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. In Russia, this day is celebrated annually on July 8. Five families were awarded with commemorative medals. Celebration was held in Tskhinvali as well.