The de facto Leader of the Tskhinvali region, Anatoly Bibilov paid a working visit to Russia on September 7.

The delegation comprises members of the de facto government: Acting Minister of Finance, Aza Khabalova, Acting Minister of Justice, Zalina Lalieva, Acting Minister of Construction and Architecture, Eduard Dzagoev, Acting Minister of Health and Social Development, Georgy Totchiev, Acting Minister of Education and Science, Natalie Gasieva.

On September 9, Bibilov met with Dmitry Kozak, the Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration. In the Administration, Kozak is responsible for the direction of the occupied regions of Georgia. The issues of salary increase for the budgetary sector and public servants by 2021, implementation of the investment program promoting socio-economic development of the Tskhinvali region were discussed at the meeting.

The visit to Moscow was held amid internal political crisis in the Tskhinvali region. The internal political tension in Tskhinvali escalated after 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 injuries sustained in the pre-trial detention isolator. After Jabiev's death, the de facto government resigned and protests began in Tskhinvali.

Aslan Bzhania, the de facto leader of Abkhazia, is also on a  working visit to Moscow.