Vladimir Putin’s Visit to Abkhazia (June 2, 2011)

On June 2, 2011, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, made an unplanned visit to Abkhazia. It was his second visit to Abkhazia after the 2008 Russia-Georgia War. Putin attended the funeral of the de facto President of Abkhazia, Sergei Baghapsh. Baghapsh, who was the de facto President of Abkhazia since 2005, died in a hospital in Moscow on May 29, 2011. He was undergoing an operation on his lungs. Putin personally honored Baghapsh’s memory and expressed his condolences to his daughter and widow. 

During his visit Putin met the de facto Acting President of Abkhazia, Aleksandre Ankvab and de facto Prime Minister of Abkhazia, Sergei Shamba. During the meeting Putin stated to the de facto leaders of Abkhazia that their country can count on Russia’s support including RUB 10 billion (USD 360 million) assistance that the Kremlin allocated for Abkhazia in 2011. 

Putin promised Ankvab to help in development problems. Putin told Shamba that he “hopes that relations between Georgian and Abkhazian people will be restored in all directions. We will support your external ties with any state, including the closest neighbors.  Time heals all wounds. I hope that relations between Georgian and Abkhazian people will be restored”. During the meeting Putin also told Shamba that Russia may increase financial assistance to Abkhazia.

During the visit Putin was accompanied by the Head of the Presidential Administration, Sergei Narishkin, Minister of Regional Development, Viktor Basragin and Governor of Krasnodar Oblast, Aleksandr Tkachev.