Publication:  N17 / Review period: January 1-31, 2022 /Author: Ani Zirakashvili

Review of the Activities of the Russian Military Forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region is being prepared within the framework of the project - Roadmap to the Kremlin's Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. The purpose of the publication is to review trainings of the military forces of the Russian Federation deployed in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, as well as other important events related to the Russian 7th and 4th military bases in these regions. 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 activities of the Russian military forces in the occupied regions of Georgia.

Russian Military Forces in Abkhazia

Military Exercises

Units of the 7th military base of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia took part in various military exercises in January:

• Preparations for the International Army Games 2022 (Army-2022) started at the 7th military base. Servicemen of a reconnaissance unit started preparing for the Excellence in Military Intelligence competition. Those servicemen who get the best results will be eligible to participate in the qualifying round of the Army-2022 competition. In total, the training involved over 500 military servicemen.
• Joint Russian-Abkhaz anti-terrorist exercises are underway in Sokhumi. The event involves the de facto law enforcement agencies of Abkhazia, as well as the staff of the Russian FSB - a total of about 500 people. As part of the exercise, the participants are to liberate “government” buildings from terrorists, using armored personnel carriers, helicopters, and other weapons. The exercises started on January 27 and will last until February 5.

Anti-Terrorist Exercises in Sokhumi. Source: www.structure.mil.ru

Russian Military Forces in the Tskhinvali Region

Conscripts

• Recruits joined the 4th military base in early January. They are graduates of higher military educational institutions of the Russian Federation. The young officers were provided with living spaces in the garrisons of the districts. As the Commander of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation, Aleksandr Dvornikov, noted over 1400 people graduated from the mentioned institutions in 2021.

Other Events

• On February 1, the 4th military base celebrates its 13th anniversary. Commanders of the base, military personnel and their families, de facto leaders of the region and others will attend a solemn event during which the base servicemen will demonstrate military exercises, exhibit modern weapons and combat equipment, a military orchestra will give a concert, etc.

After the August 2008 war, Russian occupation forces were deployed in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. In 2010, Russia signed agreements with the de facto republics of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region on the deployment of combined Russian military bases on the territories of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region for the next 49 years. The Russian 7th military base is located on the territory of Abkhazia, and the Russian 4th military base - in the Tskhinvali region. Both regions are part of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation.