Monthly Review

Review of Kremlin Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region

2019 / 04 / 01

In March 2019, in Moscow, the President of the Russian Federation hosted de facto Leader of Tskhinvali Region. Important steps have been taken in terms of creation Joint Information-Coordination Center in Abkhazia under the Ministries of Internal Affairs and improvements achieved in Healthcare Sphere. In this article, you will be able to learn about important developments of March 2019, connected to the Kremlin’s policies in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region.

March 2019 Important Developments Shortly:

  • Meeting with Putin: de facto Leader of Tskhinvali Region met with the President of Russia, who promised security support to Tskhinvali and gave advices on illegitimate parliamentary elections planned to hold in June.
  • State Duma members: Russian MP visited Tskhinvali Region to discuss tourism and sport development, another MP, Konstantin Zatulin, was once again appreciated for the support to Abkhazia.
  • Investment Programs: restoration of energy system and development of transportation network was defined as the priority direction for 2020-2022 investment program in Abkhazia.
  • Military exercises: field exercise was conducted in the Southern Military District of Russia, involving 10 thousand gunners and up to 3000 units of military equipment.
  • Cooperation in the field of security: important steps have been taken in terms of operating Joint Information-Coordiantion Center of the Ministries of Internatl Affairs of Russia and Abkhazia.
  • Cooperation in the field of healthcare: Abkhazia is trying to solve problems existing in healthcare system with the support of Russia.
  • Cooperation in the field of agriculture: once spring comes Russia will support Abkhazia to fight against Asian Bug.
  • Cooperation with the regions of Russia: Tskhinvali Region trying to deepen economic relations with Saint Petersburg.
  • Religion: Abkhazian Muslims received money collected by Adygea Republic and Krasnodar Krai Muslims for Sukhumi Mosque expansion.
  • Soft power: International day of poetry was celebrated in Tskhinvali Region where Pushkin was also commemorated.

Important Meetings

On March 6, 2019, in Moscow, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region Anatoly Bibilov met with the President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. At the meeting was discussed progress of joint cooperation and the prospects of cooperation in the field of socio-economic direction. Putin promised Bibilov security support and requested illegitimate parliamentary elections, planned on June9, 2019, to be held in full accordance with law and democtratic standards. Putin’s statement was considered as Kremlin message, to conduct elections peacefully and without excesses. There is also an opinion that with this short meeting Putin indirectly supported Bibilov's political team.

Cooperation with State Duma Members

On March 14, 2019, for the support to the university and the de facto Republic, “Abkhazian State University“ of  the de facto Republic awarded Konstantin Zatulin with Honorary Doctorate. On the position of the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the State Duma, he is an active lobbyist and supporter of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region.

On March 30, 2019, Mikhail Degtyarev Chairman of State Duma Committee of Physical Culture, Sports, Toursim and Youth Affairs of the Russian Federation visited Tskhinvali Region for the first time. The State Duma Deputy met with the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region Anatoly Bibilov. During the meeting Degtyarev talked about Tskhinvali Region tourist potential.

Planning of Investment Program Priorities

In March 2019, the issue of deterimining investment program priorities of 2020-2022 socio-economic development in direction of Abkhazia was important part of the agenda of the North Caucasus Affairs Ministry of the Russian Federation. On March 14-15, 2019, in the de facto government of Abkhazia, during discussing 2020-2022 investment program project at the meeting with the working group of the Ministry, restoration of energy system and development of transportation network was defined as the priority direction.

Military Exercises

Large-scale exercises

In the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation, on the territorries of Russia, Armenia, Annexed Crimea and Occupied Regions of Georgia, field exercise was carried out involving 10 thousand gunmen and up to 3000 units of equipment. Exercise was conducted on 20 military polygons. More than 200 units of military district rocket armies and artillery participated in the exercise.

Military exercises on the 7th Military Base

March, 2019, like the previous months, was effective for the servicemen of the 7th Military Base of Russia in Abkhazia. During the month, various types of exercises were held at Nagvalou and Tsebelda Military Polygons, including:

  • Intelligence units of the 7th military base utilized more than 50 thousand ammunition during vocational trainings at Tsebelda Military Polygon.
  • Tactical exercises involving aviation and fleet were carried out in Abkhazia under instruction of the Commander of the Southern Military District Aleksandr Dvornikov.
  • Sapper unit cleared 10 000 sq/m minefield using modern means of mine detection.
  • Radiation and chemical intelligence specialists worked out protective measures against weapons of mass destruction used by conditional enemy.
  • On the Black Sea coast, as a part of tactical exercises military base servicemen suppressed conditional terrorists activity.

Number of Contract Servicemen at the 7th Military Base has Increased

In 2019, compared to 2018, number of contract servicemen at the 7th Military Base has increased by 30%. At present, the number of contract servicemen at the military base is more than half of the total number of the base military personnel.

Infrastructure projects of the 7th military base

Construction of 4 new houses for military servicemen completed on the territory of the 7th military base. 64 servicemen of the military base received refurbished apartments. In 2018, five similar houses were built in close vicinity to the military base.

Military exercises at the 4th military base

Various military exercises were held in Tskhinvali Region, including military servicemen first-time exercise in use of airmobile groups at Dzartsemi polygon.

Cooperation in the Field of Security

In March 2019, another step was taken in direction of launching Joint Information-Coordination Center of the Ministries of Internal Affairs of Russia and de-facto Republic of Abkhazia. On March 5, the functioning of the Center was discussed at the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs. The working meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister Igor Koshin. Participants of the working meeting discussed the issue of creating necessary conditions for the Center effective work, including possibilities of conducting the Center building reconstruction works.

On May 18, 2017, in Sochi, agreement on the Center formation was signed by Igor Zubov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia and Aslan Kobakhia, de facto Minister of Internal Affairs. Reactions following to the Center establishment varied in Abkhazia. The opponents to the Center establishment were stating that “by founding a joint Center the government renounced the independence of Abkhazia”. According to the supporters of the Center, the work of the structure, which will not have the authority “to undertake investigations”, will further activate the combat against crime.

Cooperation in the Field of Healthcare

Local de facto governments negatively assess medical assistance provision for the people living in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region on the territory controlled by Georgian government. This fact is considered as a tool of “soft power”, which from Sukhumi and Tskhinvali prospective, Tbilisi applies against them. In order to reduce Tbilisi influence the issues such as developing local medical infrastructure and solving existing problems patients experience while applying to Russian hospitals are considered highly important. In March, important steps have been made in this direction in Abkhazia, as Tamaz Tsakhnakia, de facto Minister of Healthcare, held number of meetings in Moscow and Sukhumi.

During his visit in Moscow Tsakhnakia together with the Russian collegues discussed several issues: emergency center construction in Abkhazia, mobile diagnostic vehicles acquisition, health check-ups for the population in Abkhazia. At the meeting in Sukhumi, Tsakhnakia with Russian collegues discussed healthcare service three phase project for the citizens of de facto Abkhazia. The First Phase of the Project includes population health check-ups, the Second Phase – Cardio Surgery department construction, and the Third Phase - multidisciplinary Medical Center construction.

Tsakhnakia had to talk about existing problems with Russian representatives, in particular on paying the debt of de facto Ministry of Healthcare of Abkhazia against Russian hospitals. According to Tsakhnakia Russian side should pay more attention that patients from Abkhazia were not refused for hospitalization and did not experience other problems at Russian hospitals.

Russian funded Health and Recreation Center Opening

On March 23, 2019, Health and Recreation Center “Rodniki“ official opening took place in village Dranda, Gulripshi District, Abkhazia. The investment project for the construction of the Center was implemented under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia and was funded by Russian private investments. The first Medical-Prophylactic Institution in Abkhazia will be working on the base of the Center.

Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture

Once spring comes Russia will support Abkhazia to fight against Asian Bug. On march 1, 2019, representatives of de facto Ministry of Agricultural of Abkhazia together with Russian colleagues discussed organizational issues in regard of fighting against Asian Bugs in Abkhazia in 2019, necessary measures for development of fruit plantations and how to deal with the diseases of hazelnut trees.

Cooperation with the Regions of Russia

On March 13, 2019, Znaur Gasiyev, Tskhinvali Region de facto Ambassador to Russia together with Alexander Beglov, Acting Governor of Saint Petersburg, discussed the issues of attracting investors to Tskhinvali Region and realization of the Region produced products in Saint Petersburg.

With the support of Russia, Tskhinvali, apart of Russian Regions, tries to develop cooperation with the separatist regions of Ukrain. For example, on March 28, 2019, de facto parliament of Tskhinvali Region ratified agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance with self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic.

Religion

On March 15,  2019, Spiritual board of Adygea Republic and Krasnodar Krai Muslims, guided by Mufti Askarbia Kardanov, visited Abkhazia. The guests handed to the Abkhazian Muslims money collected by Adygea and Krasnodar Krai Muslims for Sukhumi Mosque expansion.

Russian Soft Power

On March 7, 2019, with the participation of Sergey Skvartsov, representative of the Federal Agency in Tskhinvali Region for CIS States, Compatriots Residing Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs, at the “South Ossetia State University“ was held round table dedicated to the Annexy of Crimea by Russia. On March 8, in Tskhinvali, at the House of Science and Culture of Russia was held a reception devoted to the International Women’s day. On March 21, International Day of Poetry was celebrated in Tskhinvali, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

On March 14, in Abkhazia, for the second time in this year, with the support of the Agency, was carried out international competition “Live Classics“ for the young readers; on March 26, at the Agency representation in Abkhazi, was held the meeting with the teachers of Russian language and literature.