Sergei Lavrov’s Visit to Abkhazia

On October 2-3, 2009, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov, visited Abkhazia. This was Lavrov’s second visit to Abkhazia after the August 26, 2008 Russian recognition of Abkhazian independence – the first one took place on September 14, 2008. In terms of the visit, Lavrov met the de facto President of Abkhazia, Sergei Baghapsh and de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Sergei Shamba. Lavrov’s visit to Abkhazia took place two days after the publishing of the report by EU research commission on the reasons of 2008 Russia-Georgia War.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, visited Abkhazia. The main achievement of Lavrov’s visit was signing the agreement on visa free travel between Russia and Abkhazia. Together with the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Sergei Shamba, Lavrov signed an agreement that would enable citizens of Abkhazia and Russia to travel visa free for 90 days on each other’s territories. According to Lavrov’s statement, the agreement would enable the crossing of Abkhazian-Russian border not only through diplomatic, service and travel passports, but also through Russian and Abkhazian internal passports as well. Lavrov stated that in order to make the process of crossing the bordereasier, the border crossing points would be technically updated and a new bridge built. 

During his meeting with Shamba, Lavrov also stated about reaching an agreement regarding cargo escort. According to Lavrov, it is possible to ensure the transportation of cargo from high seas towards Abkhazia is such a manner, that it would not allow the repetition of Georgian provocation. Lavrov stated that the importance of this issue is due to the fact that Georgia considers Abkhazian territorial waters to be its own, arresting all ships moving towards Abkhazian ports without Tbilisi’s permission. 

During his visit to Abkhazia, Lavrov was also forced to refute news disseminated in the press. According to the information spread in the Turkish press, Russia might recognize the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus in return for Ankara’s recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region as independent states. Turkish media was saying that parties were considering reaching such an agreement. Lavrov denied the possibility of reaching that agreement. He stated that Russia would not recognize North Cyprus in return for Turkish recognition of Abkhazia. “We do not adhere to such exchanges with the logic – you me, me – you. These are completely different stories. Any kind of trade is unacceptable in this regard,” said the Minister. According to Lavrov assessment, the two cases are fundamentally different, both historically, as well as in terms of international law. According to him, Abkhazia was once a Soviet Republic and while the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, made an unsuccessful attempt to return Tskhinvali Region under the control of central Georgian government in 2004, Greece has never attempted such a military adventure against North Cyprus. 

An important statement was made during the visit regarding the transfer of Abkhazia to Russian international telephone code. Lavrov said that Abkhazia will start using Russia’s +7 international telephone code, instead of the Georgian one. Lavrov stated that Russia will continue working with the international organizations on assigning a separate code for Abkhazia. 

During Lavrov visit, Russian and Abkhazian sides also exchanged their views regarding the results of the latest round of Geneva discussions. 

After meeting Baghapsh and Shamba, Lavrov also met with the employees of the Border Guard of Russian Security Service and 7th Russian Military Base. Apart from this, Lavrov also met professors and students at the State University of Abkhazia, where he delivered a speech and answered questions.