On July 13, 2022, the de facto Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, received a newly appointed Russian Ambassador to the de facto republic, Mikhail Shurgalin. Shurgalin handed over credentials to Ardzinba. The meeting discussed current issues of bilateral relations.

Mikhail Shurgalin was appointed to the position of “ambassador” on May 31. Before his appointment to the position of “ambassador” he was the Deputy Director of the 4th CIS Department at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is a well-versed diplomat in Caucasian affairs.