De facto Parliaments of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region sent an official request to the President and the Parliament of the Russian Federation with the request of recognising their independence.

Council of the Russian Federation and the State Duma addressed President Dimitri Medvedev with a request to recognize the independence of Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia and establish official ties with them.

President of the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev, made a statement regarding the recognition of independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region and signed a respective order. In response to Russian actions, Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia on August 29.

President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, published a statement regarding the recognition of independence of Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia. Diplomatic relations with Tskhinvali Region were established on April 14, 2010. Nicaragua was the first country after Russia to recognize the independence of Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia.

Russian Federation established diplomatic relations with Abkhazia. In Moscow, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergei Lavrov and de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Sergei Shamba, exchanged diplomatic notes. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, visited Tskhinvali Region for the first time since the 2008 Russia-Georgia War. During Lavrov’s visit, issues regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of Russian “Embassy” in Tskhinvali were discussed. A statement about signing a basic agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was also made.

President of the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev and de facto President of Abkhazia, Sergei Baghapsh signed an agreement on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and Abkhazia. The agreement went in force on December 23, 2008. The agreement was made for ten years, with the possibility of automatic extension by five years. 

With the order of the President of the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev, Elbrus Kargiev, the Senior Advisor at the Fourth CIS Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, was appointed to the position of the first “Ambassador” of Russia to Tskhinvali Region.

With the order of the de facto President of Abkhazia, Sergei Baghapsh, de facto Embassy of Abkhazia was established in Moscow. Baghapsh appointed Igor Akhba to the position of the first “Ambassador” of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation.

“Ambassador” of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation, Igor Akhba, presented his letters of credence to the President of Russia, Dimitri Medvedev. 

“Ambassador” of Tskhinvali Region to the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medoev, presented his letters of credence to the President of Russia, Dimitri Medvedev. 

With the order of the President of the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev, “Embassies” of Russia were established in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region.

With the order of the President of the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev, “Embassies” of Russia were established in Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia.

President of the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev and the leaders of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region signed an agreement on “Joint Measures for Protecting State Border between Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.” Through this agreement, Russia took the obligation to protect the borders of the occupied regions, including the maritime border, before Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region would form their own border security services. The Border Protection Service of Russia started its work in Abkhazia on May 2, 2009. The parties also signed an agreement on “Cooperation between the Federal Security Service of Russia, State Security Service of Abkhazia and State Security Service of South Ossetia”.

President of the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev, visited Tskhinvali for the first time since the 2008 Russia-Georgia August War. No agreements were signed during Medvedev’s short visit. Medvedev vowed to provide economic and military assistance to the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Eduard Kokoiti.

During his visit to Moscow, at a meeting with the Russian President, Dimitri Medvedev, President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, stated that Venezuela had recognized the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. Diplomatic relations were established on July 24, 2010, during the visit of the de facto Presidents of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region to Venezuela. Venezuela became the third country after Russia and Nicaragua to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. 

Nauru recognized the independence of Abkhazia. Nauru became the fourth country after Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region. 

Nauru recognized the independence of Tskhinvali Region. Nauru became the fourth country after Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region.

On the second anniversary of the 2008 August war between Russia and Georgia, the President of the Russian Federation, Dimitri Medvedev, visited Abkhazia. This was his first visit to Abkhazia after the war. In terms of his visit, Medvedev met the de facto President of Abkhazia, Sergei Baghapsh, promising him full development of relation in the fields of politics, economy and security. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov, visited Tskhinvali Region. Bilateral agreements were signed during the visit, including on the establishment of Informational-Cultural Center and the conditions of its work, principles of cooperation in the field of transport, cooperation in air search activities and emergency response.

Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, visited Abkhazia. Putin attended the funeral of the de facto President of Abkhazia, Sergei Baghapsh. Apart from this, Putin also met the de facto Acting President of Abkhazia, Aleksandre Ankvab and de facto Prime Minister Sergei Shamba. During the meeting Putin stated to the de facto leaders of Abkhazia that their country can count on Russian support, including the RUB 10 billion assistance, which the Kremlin allocated for Abkhazia in 2011.

President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin and de facto President of Abkhazia, Raul Khajimba, signed an agreement in Sochi on alliance and strategic partnership. The agreement envisages conducting coordinated foreign policies, also creating a common space for defense and security and social issues. 

President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin and de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Leonid Tibilov, signed an agreement on alliance and integration. The agreement envisages the creation of a common defense and security space, free movement on the de facto border between Russia and Tskhinvai Region, integration of customs structures, cooperation along the lines of internal affairs structures, simplification of the procedures for obtaining Russian citizenship, which also includes the pension indexation issue. The length of the agreement was set to the, with the possibility of further extensions by ten year periods.

Raul Khajimba, de facto President of Abkhazia met with Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation, in Sochi. At the meeting issues of inter-relation in the fields of trade-economy, law enforcement and investment were reviewed. Parties discussed implementation of agreement signed on November 24, 2014, between de facto Republic of Abkhazia and Russian Federation on alliance and strategic partnership.

Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu and de facto Minister of Defense of Tskhinvali Region, Ibragim Gaseev, signed an agreement in Moscow on the integration of de facto separate military units of Tskhinvali Region into the armed forces of the Russian Federation. The new agreement enables the military personnel of Tskhinvali Region to also serve on the 4th Russian military base.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergei Lavrov visited Abkhazia. Lavrov attended the opening of the new Russian “Embassy” building in Abkhazia.

“Ambassador” of Russian Federation to Tskhinvali Region, Marat Kulakhemtov, presented his letters of credence to the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoli Bibilov.

President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, visited Abkhazia on the 9th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia August War. In terms of Putin’s visitn, the de facto Minister of Healthcare of Abkhazia, Tamaz Tsakhnakia and Minister of Healthcare of Russia, Veronica Skvartsova, signed an agreement on cooperation in the following fields:  organizing the insurance of Russian citizens permanently living in Abkhazia in terms of Russian Federation’s mandatory insurance as well as giving care to them in medical organizations on the territory of the Russian Federation. The agreement will enable Russian citizens permanently living in Abkhazia to get health insurance and medical care in Russia.

Syria made a statement regarding the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region and establishing diplomatic ties with them.

On the 10th anniversary of Russia’s recognition of the independence of Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia, de facto Presidents of Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia paid a working visit to Moscow, where they met President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

Raul Khajimba, de facto President of Abkhazia met with Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation, in Sochi. At the meeting development of bilateral cooperation was discussed, including banking, new prison construction and assistance in the field of agriculture.

De facto President of the Tskhinvali Region Anatoly Bibilov met with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, in Moscow. This was Bibilov and Putin’s fifth meeting. 

De facto President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania and de facto President of the Tskhinvali Region Anatoly Bibilov  participated in the parade dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in WWII, in Moscow. During the visit Bzhania and Bibilov also met with the Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin Palace.

On December 11-19, 2020, the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, paid working visit to Russia. During the visit, Bzhania met with several representatives of the Russian government. The main purpose of these meetings was to discuss issues related to the implementation of the November 12 agreement reached in Sochi between Bzhania and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov met with the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia, Dmitry Medoev and Inal Ardzinba in Sochi.

On September 28, 2022, the Belarusian President, Aleksander Lukashenko, made an unexpected visit to Abkhazia. The de facto President, Aslan Bzhania, hosted the guest at the “State Country House” in Bichvinta. According to Lukashenko, he was last in Abkhazia 25 or 27 years ago, when he was an ordinary member of the parliament. According to him, he discussed the issue of Abkhazia at a meeting with the Russian President the day before in Sochi, and they agreed that Abkhazia cannot be abandoned and should be assisted. According to Lukashenko, his visit is not related to any special situation. Lukashenko left Abkhazia on the same day.

On February 21, it was unexpectedly reported that from Moscow de facto President of Aslan Bzhania headed to Minsk on February 20, where he was hosted by the President of Belarus, Aleksander Lukashenko. This is the second meeting between Bzhania and Lukashenko. The first one took place in Bichvinta on September 28, 2022, when Lukashenko unexpectedly visited the occupied Abkhazia after his meeting with Putin in Sochi. It is interesting that this time on the web-page of the Belarusian President, in contrast to the information about the first meeting, Bzhania is referred to as “President.” 

On September 3, 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, met with the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloyev, and the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs, Akhsar Jioev, in Sochi. After the Gagloyev-Lavrov meeting, Lavrov and Jioev signed a plan of consultations between diplomatic agencies for 2024-2025.

On October 4, 2023, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, met with the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, in Sochi. The meeting lasted one hour.