A delegation of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development chaired by the Deputy Minister, Dmitry Volvach, paid a two-day working visit to the Tskhinvali region on October 1. Although Ossetian sources do not emphasize on the composition of the delegation, photos show that Vitaly Gudin, the Director of the Department for Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development, overseeing the direction of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, and Anton Melnik, his deputy, comprised the delegation.

The main purpose of the visit was to inspect facilities under the investment program. The Russian investment program for 2020-2022 provides for financial assistance to the Tskhinvali region in the amount of RUB 4.5 billion.

First Day of the Visit

On the first day of the visit, the Russian delegation together with Ossetian “colleagues” visited the Tskhinvali N 3 public school, whose restoration was completed in September. Later, the delegation visited a residential building under construction on N118 Heroes Street, the almost completed basalt factory (Ир-Базальт) and the State Drama Theater whose director noted that the theater is “the best in the entire North Caucasus in terms of equipment, technology, lighting and everything else.”

On the same day, a working meeting on the socio-economic cooperation between Russia and the Tskhinvali region was held with the participation of de facto President, Anatoly Bibilov.

The sides discussed the development of the Tskhinvali region, the progress of the investment program, and “the dynamic management of certain processes initiated by Russian colleagues.” Bibilov thanked the Russian president for the increase in salaries for public sector workers.

As Volvach said, trade turnover between Russia and the Tskhinvali region increased by almost 67% in the first half of the year compared to the last year. He stressed that although this was his first visit to the Tskhinvali region, much has been done in terms of investment funding and increasing salaries for public servants and employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, all obligations under the bilateral agreements must be met. He also noted that it is important to approve the 2023-2025investment program which was prepared jointly and slightly changed in the Russian Presidential Administration.

According to Volvach, the investment program will increase the income of the Tskhinvali region by 60%. Volvach also expressed the readiness of the Russian side to provide technical assistance in the use of tax administration.

Second Day of the Visit

The next day, the Russian delegation, together with the de facto Prime Minister of the Tskhinvali region, Gennady Bekoev, visited the South Ossetian State University and a new maternity hospital in Tskhinvali. “Both the university building and the Tskhinvali N 3 school building which the delegation visited yesterday are well equipped,” Volvach said.

Volvach considered the two-day visit as quite fruitful and defined a new task to enhance the cooperation, as well as reduce the Tskhinvali region’s dependence on the Russian assistance so that next investment program be directly focused on strengthening the economy, budget security, small and medium-sized businesses, and attracting investors.

After visiting destroyed buildings in the center of Tskhinvali, the delegation visited a maternity hospital completed in 2019, where the de facto Minister of Health, Soslan Naniev, met the guests.

Talking about his visit to the Tskhinvali region, Volvach noted that he was “left with the best impressions” and that he was “amazed not only by nature, but also by people living, working, studying and confidently moving to into the future in Tskhinvali.”