Author: Arsen Araqelov

On September 15, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Volvach, and the Deputy Director of the Department for Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Anton Melnik, visited the de facto Republic of Abkhazia.

The so-called Prime Minister of Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab, the Vice-Prime Ministers, Kristina Ozgan and Vladimir Delba, and the Head of the Capital Construction Division, Timur Agrba, met with representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

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 de facto Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy of Abkhazia, Kristina Ozgan, met with a delegation of the Russian Federation. The delegation comprised of the Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dmitry Volvach, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Yevgeny Grabchak, the Director of the Department for Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development, overseeing the directions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, Vitaly Gudin, and his Deputy Anton Melnik.

The issues of socio-economic development of the Tskhinvali region were discussed with a Russian delegation in Tskhinvali. The meeting discussed the issues of the “allocation of financial support for the socio-economic development” of the Tskhinvali region, the implementation of the investment program, and the so-called “harmonization of customs legislation.”

On January 22, 2020, issues of socio-economic cooperation were discussed at de facto Ministry of Economy of Abkhazia with the delegation of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation. The delegation head was Igor Koshin, Deputy Minister. Russian delegation comprised of Anton Melnik – Director of the International Cooperation Department and Vera Denk – Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department, Head of the Division for Interaction with the „Republic of Abkhazia“.

In the Tskhinvali Region, delegation of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation checked ongoing construction financed by Russia. Russian delegation was headed by Anton Melnik, Director of the International Cooperation Department.

On October 23, 2019, issues related to implementation of investment program for 2017-2019 promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia were discussed in Sokhumi.

On September 10, 2019, Igor Koshin, Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs of Russian Federation, paid working visit to Tskhinvali Region. He curates Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region direction at the Ministry. Anton Melnik, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry, was the member of Koshin’s delegation.

Anton Melnik, Director of International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs of Russian Federation, paid three day working visit to Tskhinvali Region in order to inspect ongoing construction activities under the Investment Program.

On January 29, 2019, Anton Melnik, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs, paid 3 day working visit to Tskhinvali.