Monthly Review

Review of Kremlin Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region

2020 / 10 / 01

In September 2020, the de facto leaders of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region visited Moscow at the same time. The Kavkaz 2020 strategic command-staff exercises were held in the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation, including the occupied regions of Georgia. Russia will install an additional high-voltage cable to improve the energy system security in the Tskhinvali region. This article provides an overview of these aforementioned main events that took place in connection with the Kremlin’s policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in August 2020.

Main Events in Brief:                                                                                                                                        

  • Visit to Russia: The de facto leaders of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region paid visits to Moscow at the same time. As part of the visits, they met with government officials responsible for the directions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.
  • Government officials:  The Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council had a telephone conversation with the de facto leader of the Tskhinvali region amid the internal political crises in the region.  
  • Visit of a member of the State Duma:  A member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation also attended the celebrations dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the recognition of the de facto republic of "South Ossetia" in the Tskhinvali region.
  • Military exercises: The Kavkaz 2020 strategic command-staff exercises were held in the occupied regions of Georgia.
  • Coordination of foreign policy:  The Russian ambassador to Abkhazia met with the de facto president of Abkhazia.
  • Cooperation in the field of the energy:  Russia and the Tskhinvali region agreed to install a high-voltage cable that will improve the energy system in the Tskhinvali region.
  • Cooperation in the field of healthcare:  The Ministry of Health of Abkhazia asks for the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus - Sputnik 5.
  • Cooperation with regions of Russia:  Abkhazia hosted businessmen from Stavropol Krai.
  • “Soft power:”  An international campaign, called the Dictation of Victory and dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in WWII, was held in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali.

Visit to Russia

On September 8, de facto leaders of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, Aslan Bzhania and Anatoly Bibilov, met with the Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, Dmitry Kozak. In the Administration, Kozak is responsible for the direction of the occupied regions of Georgia. The First Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Mikhail Babich, also attended the meeting. Babich oversees socio-economic direction in the occupied regions of Georgia.

The meeting took place amid a backdrop of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. The tourist season in Abkhazia failed and the implementation of Russian-funded socio-economic projects are being delayed. The only hope for the de facto governments of the occupied regions of Georgia to overcome the economic challenges is the assistance from the Russian government. The main purpose of the meeting with Kozak and Babich was to receive financial assistance without delay.

Government Officials Responsible for the Direction of the Occupied Regions of Georgia

The Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Rashid Nurgaliyev, had a telephone conversation with the de facto president of the Tskhinvali region, Anatoly Bibilov. In the Security Council, Nurgaliyev oversees the directions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region and, as usual, participates in resolving internal political crises in the occupied regions of Georgia. The internal political situation in the Tskhinvali region has become tense since the death of 30-year-old Inal Jabiev on August 28. He was accused of attacking the de facto Minister of Internal Affairs of the Tskhinvali region. He died as a result of physical torture in a pre-trial detention isolator. After Jabiev's death, the de facto government resigned and protest rallies began in Tskhinvali.

Visit of a Member of the State Duma

On September 20, Kazbek Taisayev, a member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, attended a celebration dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the recognition of the de facto republic of South Ossetia. The celebration was held in the Tskhinvali region. Taisayev is a member of the Committee for the CIS, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the State Duma. He is a frequent guest in the occupied regions of Georgia, especially in the Tskhinvali region. During the pandemic, this was the first visit of a member of the Russian State Duma to Tskhinvali.

Military Exercise

Joint exercise

The Kavkaz 2020 strategic command-staff exercises were held in the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation, including the occupied regions of Georgia. Units of the Southern Military District and representatives of the de facto armed forces of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region participated in the exercises. Kavkaz 2020 started on September 21 and lasted until September 26.

Military exercises at the 7th military base in Abkhazia

  • As part of battalion-level tactical exercises, artillery units exercised shooting from modernized self-propelled Acacia artillery equipment.
  • As part of the tactical exercises, an engineering-sapper unit together with units of the de facto Ministry of Defense of Abkhazia exercised at the Nagvalou military training ground.
  • Anti-aircraft gunners exercised to repulse unmanned aerial vehicles of a conditional enemy at the Tsebelda military training ground.
  • As part of the tactical exercises, communication specialists ensured a stable connection between the checkpoints at the Tsebelda military training ground.
  • A motorized infantry unit exercised driving the armored personnel carrier BTR-82-AM and overcoming a minefield at the Tsebelda military training ground.
  • Combat medics exercised evacuating wounded from the battlefield using Mi-8 helicopters.
  • As part of the airborne defense fire control exercises, anti-aircraft gunners repulsed an attack of more than 30 unmanned aerial vehicles of a conditional enemy.

Other News from the 7th Military Base

  • Military personnel and civilians of the military base wrote a historical dictation on the WWII theme.  
  • At the beginning of the new academic year, a competition in children's drawings, Tankmen through the Eyes of a Child, was held at the military base.
  • Cultural and entertainment events dedicated to the 74th  anniversary of the establishment of the Tank Forces were held at the military base.
  • A special training ground designed to study the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles was opened at the military base.
  • Servicemen of the military base participated in an event dedicated to the Independence Day of Abkhazia and laid flowers at the Memorial of Heroes in the Park of Glory.

Military Exercises at the 4th military base in the Tskhinvali Region

  • As part of the planned exercises, battalions of motorized infantry and tankmen, together with the de facto armed forces of the Tskhinvali region, marched through the Dzartzemi military training ground.
  • A sub-unit of the 58th Combined Arms Army destroyed unmanned aerial vehicles at low altitude.
  • As part of the tactical exercises in the Tskhinvali region, snipers of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District shot down unmanned aerial vehicles.

Other News from the 4th Military Base

  • On the Day of Tankmen, a combat shooting competition was held at the Dzartsemi military training ground with the participation of tankmen of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Federation.
  • On September 20, a military parade was held in Tskhinvali dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the recognition of the so-called Republic of South Ossetia. Up to 150 military servicemen of the 4th military base participated in the ceremony and presented about 20 units of armored vehicles.

A detailed review of the activities of the Russian Military forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in September 2020 can be found here.

Coordination of Foreign Policy

On September 3, the Russian "Ambassador" to Abkhazia, Aleksey Dvinianin, met with the de facto president of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania. Issues of bilateral relations were discussed at the meeting. The last meeting between Dvinianin and Bzhania was held on June 17, 2020 when the de facto leader of Abkhazia met with Russian officials working in Abkhazia.

Cooperation in the Field of the Economy

In Moscow, on September 2, the de facto Ambassador of the Tskhinvali region to Russia, Znaur Gasiev, and the Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia, Evgeny Grabchak, signed an agreement on the technological connection of power infrastructure facilities.

According to the agreement, a 4.5-km length cable that will run through the Roki tunnel will connect a section of the overhead power line located in the Tskhinvali region with the Severnyy Portal - 110 kV substation in Russia. As the Russian Ministry of Energy announced, the project of installing the backup cable is planned to be completed by  2020. The cost of the project is estimated at RUB 1.33 billion.

Currently, the Tskhinvali region receives electricity from Russia through the single overhead power transmission line - Zaramag – the Severnyy Portal - Java. There are problems with electricity supply, especially in autumn and winter. The 11-kilometer power line runs along a mountainous section that is inaccessible during the winter. As a result of laying the cable in the tunnel, its maintenance will be possible throughout the year.

The implementation of the agreement will ensure the reliability of the Tskhinvali region’s energy system.

Cooperation in the Field of Healthcare

Abkhazia asks for the Russian vaccine

The de facto Ministry of Health of Abkhazia has asked Russia for the new vaccine against the coronavirus – Sputnik 5. Abkhazia expects to receive a batch of 15-20,000 doses of the vaccine. Vaccination in Abkhazia will be free and voluntary. The de facto ministry will purchase the vaccine. As of September 30, there are 1458 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Abkhazia.

A New Group of Russian Doctors Arrived in Abkhazia to Treat Covid-19 Patients

Russian doctors arrived in Abkhazia to assist local doctors to fight the new coronavirus. Due to the increase in the number of coronavirus cases and the lack of doctors, the Russian Ministry of Health is sending groups of doctors from different regions of Russia to Abkhazia. At this time, doctors from the Republic of Bashkortostan will replace doctors from Nizhny Novgorod at the Gudauta Central Republican Hospital. The doctors' medical mission will last 21 days.

Cooperation with Russian Regions

Abkhazia hosted businessmen from Stavropol Krai

The de facto Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture of Abkhazia, Beslan Jopua, hosted businessmen from Stavropol Krai, the Russian Federation. The main purpose of the visit was to develop economic relations between Abkhazia and Stavropol Krai.

Cooperation between public chambers was agreed in Vladikavkaz

In Vladikavkaz, representatives of the de facto Public Chamber of the Tskhinvali region and the Public Chamber of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania signed an agreement on cooperation.

Russian “Soft Power”

In September 2020, events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in WWII took place in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. The events were held with the support of the local (Abkhaz and the Tskhinvali Region) representation offices of the Federal Agency for the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs.

The Dictation of Victory

In connection with the 75th anniversary of the victory in WWII, an international campaign, called the Dictation of Victory, was held in Tskhinvali. Representatives of the local university and the Tskhinvali N 1 and N 2 secondary schools participated in the campaign. A similar campaign was held in the cities of Abkhazia. The Dictation of Victory is a commemorative event dedicated to the end of WWII. The event is held annually in many countries around the world. The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about World War II; however, the Russian Federation uses the campaign and the World War II themes mainly for propaganda purposes.

Awarding winners

Winners of the competitions dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in WWII were awarded at the Tskhinvali N 5 secondary school.

An open lesson on the 75th anniversary of the victory over fascism was held in Tskhinvali

On September 18, an open lesson dedicated to the victory over fascism in WWII was held at the Akso Koliev State Lyceum of Arts in Tskhinvali.

An event dedicated to the victory in the 1992-1993 war was held in Abkhazia

On September 18, a meeting dedicated to the victory in the 1992-1993 war was held at the local representation office of the Federal Agency for the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs. During the meeting, the topic of war was discussed in history and literature lessons.

An exhibition dedicated to “Victory Day” was opened in Sokhumi

On September 22, an exhibition dedicated to the victory of the Abkhaz people in the 1992-1993 civil war and to the 75th anniversary of the victory in WWII was held in Sokhumi.

A delegation of the North Caucasus Federal University visited the “State University of Abkhazia”

A delegation of the North Caucasus Federal University paid a working visit to the “State University of Abkhazia.” Several important cooperation agreements were signed during the working visit.

Free books to schools

According to the Federal Agency for the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs, 97,988 textbooks and fiction books will be sent to post-Soviet countries in the fall of 2020. Armenia will receive the most - 18,562 books. Books will also be delivered to the occupied regions of Georgia:  10,102 books to Abkhazia and 11,992 books to the Tskhinvali region.

The "ambassador" of the Tskhinvali Region to Russia met with Yevgeny Primakov

In Moscow, the de facto Ambassador of the Tskhinvali region to the Russian Federation, Znaur Gasiev, met with the Chairman of the Federal Agency for the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs, Yevgeny Primakov. Issues of cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture were discussed at the meeting.