Publication: N26 / Review period:  February 1-28, 2021

Overview of the Kremlin Policy in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region is being prepared within the framework of the project - Roadmap to Kremlin's Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. The purpose of the publication is to review important developments related to Russia’s policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. The review is a monthly publication and will be useful for everyone – decision-makers, public employees, media representatives and other people who are interested in the Kremlin policy in the occupied regions of Georgia.

Visit to Russia – Whom did Bibilov Meet

According to the de facto Presidential Administration of the Tskhinvali region, Anatoly Bibilov paid a three-day working visit to Russia. He was accompanied by the Acting Minister of Finance, Aza Khabalova. As the Administration reported, Bibilov was planning to discuss the socio-economic cooperation. More detailed information about the visit was not released. It is also unknown whom did Bibilov meet in Russia. Most likely, his visit related to the internal political crisis in the Tskhinvali region which began in August, as well as with the timely allocation of financial assistance by Russia.

Military Exercises

Military exercises at the 7th military base in Abkhazia

• At the Tsebelda and Nagvalou military training grounds, radio-electronic warfare specialists destroyed UAVs of a conditional enemy.
• Motorized infantry, artillerymen, tankmen, engineers and air defense specialists carried out exercises at the military base.
• As part of exercises, artillerymen eliminated a conditional enemy. Military personnel destroyed targets at a 15 km distance.

Other News from the 7th Military Base

• Russian pop, theater and movie stars visited the military base.
• In total, 64 military servicemen received new apartments. The construction of the first residential complex for the 7th military base servicemen started in late 2015.

Military Exercises at the 4th military base in the Tskhinvali Region

• As part of exercises, military personnel used quadcopter-type unmanned aerial vehicles to destroy a conditional enemy.
• RCB (radiation, chemical, biological) protection specialists carried out exercises.
• At the military base, as part of special tactical exercises, snipers covertly moved into unfamiliar territory, bypassed outposts, and eliminated commanders of a conditional enemy.

Other News from the 4th Military Base

• The 12th anniversary of its establishment was marked at the 4th military base. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the de facto government and law enforcement agencies, commanders of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District and veterans of the Great Patriotic War.
• On the Defender of the Fatherland Day (February 23), an open day was held at the military base. Students of the Tskhinvali N6 school took part in the event and attended a “lesson of courage” which was conducted by military personnel.

A detailed review of the activities of the Russian Military forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in February 2021 can be found here.

Cooperation in the Field of the Security

The de facto Ministry of Defense of the Tskhinvali region and a relevant agency of the Russian Federation signed a joint agreement on mutual recognition of the seniority of military service. Henceforth, contract servicemen will receive salary supplements, and a monthly pension supplement will be accrued upon retirement. The agreement is valid for 10 years, with automatic renewal for the next 5 years.

Cooperation in the Field of Law Enforcement

The Director of the Joint Information-Coordination Center in the Tskhinvali region, Alan Bolatayev, presented the 2020 report of the Center's activities. According to him, several wanted persons were detained in 2020 as a result of joint operations. The Center also has a department for forensic records and expertise, where 15 types of forensic examinations and researches can be conducted.  On July 4, 2016, in Tskhinvali, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Igor Zubov, and the de facto Minister of Internal Affairs of the Tskhinvali region, Akhsar Lavoyev, signed an agreement on the Procedure for the Formation and Operation of the Joint Information-Coordination Center of the Internal Affairs Ministries.

Coordination of Foreign Policy

During his working visit to Moscow, the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Daur Kove, met with the Russian Deputy Minister of Justice and the Representative of the Russian Federation at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Mikhail Galperin. At the meeting the main issue of discussion was the January 21 decision of the ECHR. During the conversation, Abkhaz and Russian specialists expressed mutual interest to jointly work on the preparation of materials aimed at defending the interests of the de facto republic of Abkhazia in the ECHR. On January 21, the European Court of Human Rights said that Russia was responsible for the breach of six articles of the European Convention of Human Rights. The judgment, delivered by the Strasbourg-based court into the inter-state complaint lodged by Georgia against Russia, also said that events following the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, that ended the active phase of the war, fell within the Russian jurisdiction for the purposes of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Cooperation in the Field of Legislation

A parliamentary delegation of the Russian Federation headed by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal Council, Konstantin Kosachev, visited the Tskhinvali region. The Russian delegation held meetings in the de facto parliament. The de facto parliament has not convened since September 2020, as some lawmakers are demanding the resignation of the de facto prosecutor general over the August murder of a Tskhinvali resident, Inal Jabiev, by police. The MPs temporarily stopped the boycott to meet with the Russian delegation and 30 lawmakers attended the parliamentary session. At a concluding briefing, Kosachev called on Ossetian MPs to resume work.

Cooperation in the Field of the Economy

Meeting on Customs Issues Was Held in Sochi

In Sochi, the Representative of the Customs Service of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia, Konstantin Kozlov, met with the Head of the Customs Service of the Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation, Natalia Polosukhina. The meeting focused on the cooperation in the field of exporting goods from Abkhazia to Russia, as well as issues of accelerating and controlling the process of goods registration. Difficulties in exporting goods from Abkhazia to Russia arose after it became necessary to differently declare and execute documents in accordance with the customs rules of the Eurasian Economic Union.

De Facto Minister of Tourism of Abkhazia Visited Moscow

The de facto Tourism Minister of Abkhazia, Teimuraz Khishba, paid a working visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Khishba took part in the Russia - Abkhazia. Tourism and Hospitality roundtable which was held at the Public Chamber of the Federal Tourism Agency of the Russian Federation. Issues related to protection and provision of epidemiological security to  Russian tourists during their holidays in Abkhazia were also discussed at the meeting. At the end of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in the field of tourism was signed between the de facto Ministry of Tourism of Abkhazia and the Public Council. A memorandum of cooperation was also signed with the Moscow Tourism Committee. Khishba also met with the Head of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency, Zarina Doguzova. Later, Khishba visited the Chechen Republic, where he discussed issues of cooperation in the field of tourism. In response to Khishba's visit, a Rosturism delegation also visited Abkhazia.

Due to the pandemic, the 2020 tourist season failed in Abkhazia. The de facto republic began to receive tourists from August 1. Over 600 thousand Russian tourists visited Abkhazia in five months. It is noteworthy, that the number of people infected with the coronavirus increased dramatically after the opening of the tourist season.

Implementation of Investment Projects in Abkhazia Was Discussed in Moscow

An extended meeting on the implementation of investment projects in Abkhazia was held at the Russian Ministry of Economic Development in Moscow. From the Abkhazian side, the meeting was attended by the de facto Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy, Kristina Ozgan, and Abkhaz borrowers of Russian banks. The de facto Ministry of Economy of Abkhazia, together with the Moscow Investment Agency, initiated a program in 2015, under which three Russian banks provided soft loans to Abkhazian entrepreneurs. Out of 40 investment projects which were participating in the competition only seven winning projects received funds. According to the agreement, all borrowers should have completed their projects and serviced the loans in full; however, none of the projects has yet met the agreed requirements.

Implementation of investment projects in Abkhazia is being discussed in Moscow. Source: Webpage of the de facto Ministry of Economy of Abkhazia.

Abkhazia Requests to Increase the Throughput Capacity of the “Border” Crossing

During her working visit to Moscow, Kristina Ozgan, met with the Deputy Minister of Transport of Russia, Vladimir Tokarev. Issues of cooperation in the field of transport were discussed at the meeting, including the development of railway traffic and increasing the throughput capacity of the “border” crossing on the River Psou. Capacity of the current “border” crossing on a new bridge, which was built in 2010, is limited and does not meet the upward trend. During the citrus season, the process of exporting large quantity of citrus to Russia was delayed.

Reconstruction of the Sokhumi Airport Was Discussed in Moscow

In Moscow, Kristina Ozgan also met with the Head of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Alexander Neradko. The working meeting was dedicated to the issue of restoring air traffic at the Sokhumi Babusheri airport. As Ozgan noted, the Abkhazian side expects that work on the design of the airport complex facilities will begin this year. Neradko promised to assist in the implementation of all necessary measures for the project preparation.

Cooperation in the Field of Energy

In Moscow, Kristina Ozgan met with the Russian Deputy Energy Minister, Evgeny Grabchak. Several important issues were discussed at the meeting: the energy situation in Abkhazia due to the shut-down of the Enguri HPP (will not operate from January 20 to May), the repair of the Achguara high voltage overhead line, and the implementation of measures necessary to develop the general gasification scheme of Abkhazia.

Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture

Russia Will Assist the Agricultural Sector of the Tskhinvali Region

In Tskhinvali, issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed with representatives of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture. As part of the visit, the Russian side donated agricultural equipment to the Tskhinvali region.

Abkhazia Receives a Mobile Artificial Insemination Station for Cattle

A meeting with Dmitry Butusov, the Director of the Livestock Department of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, was held at the de facto Ministry of Agriculture of Abkhazia. The Russian side handed over a mobile artificial insemination station for cattle to Abkhazia.

Cooperation in Various Fields

Representatives of the Russian Ministry of Sports visited the Gali district. The Russian delegation visited the Rechkh Soviet-era Olympic rowing base in Gali. Currently, the rowing base infrastructure is almost destroyed. During the Soviet period, the Soviet team trained in kayaking and canoeing, and the Union championships were held at the base. According to Beslan Karchava, the de facto Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Sports of Abkhazia, Russia is interested in restoring the base, as there is only one lake in Russia to train on in winter.

Cooperation with Regions of Russian

Mayor of Sochi Hosts the De Facto Mayor of Sokhumi

The Mayor of Sochi, Alexei Kopaigorodskoy, hosted the de facto Mayor of Sokhumi, Beslan Eshba. The parties discussed issues of trade and economic cooperation in terms of promoting products of Abkhazian producers in Sochi and products of Sochi producers - in Sokhumi. Interestingly, visitors to Sochi often visit Abkhazia for a day trip.

Tskhinvali Region and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Signed an Agreement in the Field of Education

The Tskhinvali region and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic signed a protocol in the field of education. The purpose of the protocol is to qualify teaching staff of universities of the two “countries” and increase opportunities for young scientists and students.

Russian “Soft Power”

Commission Selecting Applicants Wishing to Study at Russian Universities Held a Session in Tskhinvali

The Rossotrudnichestvo office in the Tskhinvali region hosted a session of the Commission selecting entrants to study at Russian universities for the 2021/2022 academic year. The session discussed issues of the preparation, organization and conduct of the selection campaign. The Commission developed a regulation on the selection of the Tskhinvali region “citizens” to study at Russian universities according to the quota allocated for the 2021/2022 academic year, as well as a schedule for the selection campaign activities.

Day of Diplomats was Marked in Sokhumi

On February 10, the Day of Diplomats was marked in Sokhumi. The event honored the memory of the Vice Consul Dmitry Vishernev and his wife, who were killed in Sokhumi, in 2013. In 2018, a memorial plaque was unveiled in their honor.

Employees of the Immortal Regiment were Awarded in Tskhinvali

At the de facto embassy of the Russian Federation in the Tskhinvali region, employees of the Immortal Regiment - Zhana Zaseeva, the de facto Minister of Culture of the Tskhinvali region, and Valery Bibilov, the de facto First Deputy Head of the Tskhinvali region, were awarded medals on behalf of Vladimir Putin.

Defender of the Fatherland Day – February 23

• A lesson of courage was held at the Tskhinvali region N 6 school. The event was part of the military-patriotic upbringing of the younger generation and was dedicated to the Defender of the Fatherland Day (February 23). Military servicemen of the 4th military base of the Russian Federation met with students in grades 9-11.
• The Rossotrudnichestvo office in the Tskhinvali region summed up the results of an art competition which was held on February 23, on the Defender of the Fatherland Day. Students, teachers, and children of military servicemen of the 4th military base of the Russian Federation, a total of 90 participants, took part in the competition.
• The Defender of the Fatherland Day was celebrated in schools of the Tskhinvali region. A ceremony dedicated to the Defender of the Fatherland Day took place in a school of the Java district.
• The Defender of the Fatherland Day was celebrated in the Akhalgori district school. As part of the event, a ceremony of laying flowers at the Monument to the Memory of the War Victims took place.
• On the Defender of the Fatherland Day, the Rossotrudnichestvo office in Abkhazia organized an online chess tournament. A total of 22 people of different age categories participated in the tournament.

Presentation of the Russkiy Mir Foundation was held in Tskhinvali

A presentation of the Russkiy Mir Foundation was held in the A. Tibilov “state” University of South Ossetia, in the Tskhinvali region. Julieta Ostaeva, the university associate professor of the department of the Russian language, was appointed as the head of the Russkiy Mir Foundation. At the meeting, she presented the 2021 working plan.

Presentation of the Russkiy Mir Foundation in Tskhinvali. Source: Webpage of the Rossotrudnichestvo o0ffice in Tskhinvali.