Igor Koshin

Former Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs of Russian Federation

Igor Koshin is the Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs of Russian Federation and he directly curates the issues of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. He is a frequent guest of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. On his visits, he is often accompanied by Denis Travin, the Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross Border Cooperation at the Presidential Administration. Based on the analysis of his meetings during the visits to occupied Georgian regions, we can presume that together with Travin, it is also his responsibility to monitor the implementation of projects planned in terms of the investment programs designed for social-economic development of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. Together with Travin, Koshin ensures the control of money allocated by the Kremlin and the implementation of the on-going projects.

General Biographical Data 

• Igor Koshin was born on August 27, 1974, in the city of Usinsk, in Komi ASSR, RSFSR, USSR.
• In 1996, he graduated from the Faculty of Economy of the Syktyvkar State University, with the specialty of production management. He also graduated from the Faculty of Law.
• From 1996 to 2000, he worked in various commercial structures in the city of Syktyvkar, including as a director of a tourist company.
• In 2000-2001, he was the Executive Director of a non-commercial organization Union of Northern Geologists and Oil Producers in the city of Naryan-Mar.
• In 2003, he graduated from the Public Service Academy existing at the Office of the Head of the Komi Republic.

Political Career

• In 2001, Koshin lost elections for the position of the Mayor of the city of Naryan-Mar.
• From 2001 to 2005, he was the Member of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug Assembly and its Deputy Chairman. In a multi-mandate constituency he got the largest share of the electoral votes.
• From 2005 to 2012, he was the Chairman of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug Assembly. In 2005, he also fought for the position of Governor of the Autonomous Okrug, yet was defeated in the second round of voting.
• From 2012 to 2014, he was the member of the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation. He was the member of the ruling party United Russia and from 2002-2004 also the Secretary of the Political Council of the Party’s Regional Division in Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
• From February 22, 2014, he was acting Governor of Nenents Autonomous Okrug.
• On September 14, 2014, he was elected as the Governor of Nenents Autonomous Okrug. He received 76% of electoral votes and was one of the youngest governors in Russia.
• From 2014 to 2017, he was the Governor of Nenents Autonomous Okrug. He resigned before the expiration of his tenure on September 28, 2017. Koshin had one of the lowest ratings among governors. He was being blamed for the financial problems of the region, which was also caused by the fall of oil prices. According to the assessment of the Russian experts, Koshin’s positions in the region weakened with the activation of Rosneft, as Koshin himself was considered to be lobbying the interests of Lukoil. One of the reasons for his resignation was non-implementation of the “[2012] May Presidential Directives,” namely he failed to increase the salaries of the people employed in budgetary organizations.
• On December 21, 2017, Prime Minister of Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev, appointed Koshin to the position of Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs of Russia. At the Decision of Minister Lev Kuznetsov, apart from international cooperation, Koshin also became the curator of relations between Russia and occupied Georgian regions. Koshin also managed to maintain his position after the appointment of the new Minister, Sergey Chebotarev, on May 18, 2018.

Relations with Abkhazia

• On June 27, 2018, together with Travin, Koshin met the de facto Prime Minister of Abkhazia in Sokhumi to discuss investment projects. In terms of the visit, Koshin also met the de facto President of Abkhazia and the Russian “Ambassador” to Abkhazia. He also inspected the on-going constructions in Ochamchire district.
• On July 17, 2018, Chebotarev visited Abkhazia. He was accompanied by Koshin. During the meetings with the de facto leaders of Abkhazia, the issues of the realization of the 2017-2019 investment programs supporting the social-economic development of Abkhazia, were discussed.
• On October 12, 2018, the 9th Russian-Abkhazian Business Forum was held in Sokhumi. The event with 400 participants was jointly organized by the Ministry of Economy of Russia and the de facto Ministry of Economy of Abkhazia. An exhibition of Abkhazian enterprises and organizations was held in terms of the Forum. A plenary session was also held at the Forum, summarizing the 10-year cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia, also discussing future perspectives. The Russian delegation at the Forum was led by Koshin, who delivered a speech.
• On February 20, 2019, Koshin held Inter-Agency Working Group first meeting on collaboration in the field of investment for Intergovernmental Commission on Socio-Economic Cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia. At the meeting were discussed various issues: establishing taxes between Russia and Abkhazia; an amendment to the legislation of Abkhazia to simplify registration procedures on the territory of Abkhazia for Russian investors and employees of the companies founded with Russian capital.
• On April 22, 2019, in Sukhumi was held  the first meeting of inter-agency working group on cooperation in investment field between Russia and Abkhazia. The head of the working group from Abkhazian side was Adgur Ardzinba, de facto Minister of Economy and from Russian side Igor Koshin, Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs. At the meeting  was discussed cooperation expansion mechanism.
• On June 11, 2019, working meeting at the de facto government of Abkhazia was held with representatives of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs, Treasury and Central Bank of Russian Federation. Within the three-day working visit, Russian delegation monitored the purpose of consumption of Russian financial assistance for 2018. Valery Bganba, de facto Prime Minister, represented Abkhazian side and Koshin – Russian side. Before the meeting, members of the working group conducted inspection of ongoing projects development under investment program. Meeting participants reviewed approval process for 2020-2022 investment program. 
• On July 19, 2019, Koshin paid working visit to Abkhazia. He observed constructions ongoing under the Investment Program promoting Socio-Economic Development of Abkhazia for 2017-2019. Working visit started with the meeting with de facto Prime-Minister, Valery Bganba. At the meeting joint Socio-Economic Cooperation issues were discussed, including implementation of 56 events planned under Investment Program for 2019. After the meeting, Koshin inspected school construction in Gagra. 
• On August 22, 2019, Koshin visited Abkhazia. He observed ongoing constructions of social and infrastructure facilities (schools in Gagra and village Likhni, kindergarten in New Athos, central district hospital in Tkvarcheli district) ongoing under Investment Program of 2017-2019 promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia. After visiting construction facilities, Koshin discussed issues of socio-economic cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia with de facto government of Abkhazia . As a part of Koshin’s visit, two specialized vehicles for transportation and pressing of household waste were transferred to Sokhumi.
• On October 9, 2019, in Abkhazia, inauguration of Raul Khajimba, de facto President, was held. Apart of representatives of local de facto government, representatives of Russia also participated in the solemn ceremony. Among the guests was Koshin as well. Koshin with Sergey Chebotarev, Minister of North Caucasus Affairs, directly met with Khajimba as well.
• On October 23, 2019, issues related to implementation of investment program for 2017-2019 promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia were discussed in Sokhumi. The meeting participants were Raul Khajimba, de facto President of Abkhazia and Russian representatives  Koshin, Anton Melnik, Director of International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs and Denis Travin, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation of the Presidential Administration. Preparation for the 18th intergovernmental meeting on socio-economic cooperation between Abkhazia-Russia was also discussed at the meeting.
• On December 18-19, 2019, the representative delegation of the Russian Federation visited Abkhazia. On December 19, the 18th Intergovernmental Session on socio-economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia was held in Sokhumi. The Session chairs were Vitaly Mutko, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation and Valery Bganba, de facto Prime-Minister of Abkhazia. The Russian delegation comprised Koshin, Sergey Chebotarev, Minister of North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation and Anton Melnik, Director of the Ministry International Cooperation Department. Delegation members from the Presidential Administration were Aleksey Filatov, Head of the Directorate for Cross Border Cooperation, and Denis Travin, Deputy Head of the Directorate. At the session the committee approved investment program for 2020-2022, promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia.
• 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 Koshin. 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“.

Relations with Tskhinvali Region

• In February 2018, Koshin, together with Travin, was visiting Tskhinvali about the implementation of investment programs, where he met the de facto leader of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov and inspected on-going constructions. When inspecting the constructions, Koshin stated that “not everything is going the way we would like”.
• On April 3, 2018, the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov, stated about the beginning of the implementation of 2018-2019 investment program during Koshin and Travin’s visit. In terms of the inspection of on-going constructions in Tskhinvali Region, Koshin visited the buildings of “South Ossetian State University” and Drama Theater together with the de facto Prime Minister of Tskhinvali Region, Erik Pukhaev.
• Soon after Chebotarev’s appointment (May 18, 2018), Koshin visited Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia together with his new boss. Chebotarev first visited Tskhinvali after his appointment on July 16, 2018. Chebotarev was also accompanied by Koshin and the International Development Department Director of the Ministry, Anton Melnik. Koshin participated in a government meeting dedicated to discussing the implementation of the 2018-2019 investment programs designed to foster social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region.
• On October 5, 2018, during his visit to Tskhinvali Region, Koshin discussed the implementation of investment programs with the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov. Koshin assessed the dynamics of the implementation of the program positively and talked about the plans for next year as well. The agenda of the following inter-governmental commission meeting was also discussed.
• On 31 October, 2018, the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov, held a meeting in Tskhinvali regarding the social-economic cooperation between Russia and Tskhinvali Region. Koshin participated in the meeting from the Russian side. The agenda of the following inter-governmental commission meeting was discussed at the meeting, together with the implementation of the 2018-2019 investment programs designed to foster social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region. During the visit, Koshin also inspected the Russian-funded construction of Gupta-Kvaisa road.
• On November 15, 2018, the 19th meeting of the intergovernmental commission on social-economic cooperation between Russian Federation and Tskhinvali Region was held in Moscow, chaired by Mutko from the Russian side. De facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov, Minister of North Caucasus Affairs, Sergey Chebotarev and Koshin also participated in the meeting. The issues of financial support for the social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region in 2018 and the implementation of the 2018-2019 investment programs designed to foster social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region were discussed during the meeting.
• On February 18, 2019, Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, with Koshin and Denis Travin, Deputy Head of Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation, discussed the issues of Russian Investment Programs implementation in Tskhinvali Region. Investment Programs implementation for 2018 and planned programs for 2019 was also reviewed on the meeting held in Tskhinvali. Formation of Investment Programs project for 2020-2022 was the topic for discussion as well.
• On April 19, 2019, the 20th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on social-economic cooperation between Russian Federation and Tskhinvali Region was held in Tskhinvali. The Investment Program supporting social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region for 2020-2022 was approved at the meeting. Within the frame of the meeting was created inter-agency working group for cooperation in investment field. The group will consist of 19 members, including representatives of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs and other interested agencies. The working group will be chaired by Koshin.
• On May 23, 2019, in Tskhinvali, Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, discussed the issue of implementation of investment program, financed by Russia, at the meeting with Koshin. Preparation of investment program for 2020-2022 was also discussed at the meeting. Koshin noted that investment program for 2018 has been completed almost by 100% for the first time. Koshin praised the projects timely implementation.
• On September 10, 2019, Koshin paid working visit to Tskhinvali Region. During the visit Koshin met with Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President. Issues of socio-economic cooperation were reviewed at the meeting as well as implementation of Investment Program and agreements signed in 2019. Koshin visited construction facilities under the Investment Program.
• On November 28, 2019, Koshin paid working visit to Tskhinvali Region. Koshin delegation members were Denis Travin, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation of the Presidential Administration and Marat Kulakhmetov, „Ambassador“ of the Russian Federation to Tskhinvali Region. During the visit Russian delegation met with Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region. Results of investment program implementation promoting socio-economic development of Tskhinvali Region for 2019 were reviewed at the meeting.
• On December 24, 2019, in Tskhinvali, four new facilities (Kindergarten, building of the Committee on Taxes and Fees, maternity home, multi-apartment buildings) have been opened funded under the investment program promoting socio-economic development of the Tskhinvali Region. Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President, participated in the ceremony along with Koshin, Marat Kulakhmetov, Russian „ambassador“ to the region and Denis Travin, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross Border Cooperation of the Presidential Administration.