Publication:  N5 / Review period: January-March, 2022 /Author: Ani Zirakashvili

Review of Russia’s Soft Power 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 important developments related to Russia's soft power in these regions and activities that the Kremlin uses to strengthen its influence in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. The review is a quarterly publication and will be useful for everyone – decision-makers, public employees, media representatives and other people who are interested in the Kremlin’s policy in the occupied regions of Georgia.

Russia’s Soft Power in Abkhazia

Education

• On January 4-9, the Teacher of the Year international winter school with the participation of Ossetian, Abkhaz and Russian teachers was held in Sokhumi. The event participants were introduced to e-learning resources and hybrid teaching methods.
• Abkhaz "cadets" will study in higher education institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The "cadets" were to choose one from four specialized institutions: the Voronezh Institute, the Omsk Academy, the Orlov Institute, and the Nizhny Novgorod Academy. The swearing-in ceremony was held on January 10.
• In February, Russia donated a total of 161,000 textbooks for I-VII grades schoolchildren to 153 schools in Abkhazia.  As the “Minister” of Education noted, the textbooks correspond to Russian educational standards.
• On February 14, the Future of Abkhazia Center was opened in Moscow. The main functions of the center will be supporting Abkhaz youth in obtaining education, internships and temporary employment in Russia.
• On March 17-18, the “Minister” of Education, Inal Gablia, attended a forum on Pedagogical Education at the Russian Classical University and signed a 2022-2024 cooperation development plan with the Russian Academy of Education.
• The "Ministry" of Foreign Affairs is accepting applications for admission to the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Applications will be accepted from March 29 to April 8 and will be followed by entrance exams.

Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Alexander Yakovenko, and the "Minister" of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, after the talks about the Future of Abkhazia center.

Culture

• On February 22, children's competition "Battle for the Caucasus. Stalingrad" ended in Sokhumi. The competition aimed to preserve the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War. The award ceremony was held at the State Museum of the Combat Glory.

Activities of Non-Governmental Organizations

• On January 27, the de facto Deputy Minister of Culture of Abkhazia, Dinara Smyr, met with representatives of two NGOs – Right of Peace and Road of Peace. These organizations are aimed at developing humanitarian ties in different regions of the Russian Federation.

Celebrating Historical Dates

• On March 4, Gudauta marked the date of the establishment of the Soviet regime. The de facto heads of the Gudauta district, employees of “state” institutions, servicemen of the de facto armed forces and others took part in the events.
• On March 15, Abkhazia marked the 29th anniversary of the memory of those killed in the battle at Gumista in Abkhazia (the so-called March Offensive). Students and teachers of Sokhumi “State” College, activists of the Youth Movement, and others took part in the event.

Russia’s Soft Power in the Tskhinvali Region

Education

• A total of 41 entrants will take part in the 2022 Unified National Examinations (ЕГЭ-2022) in North Ossetia. The exams will start on May 27 and last until June.
• On February 11, the so-called State University of South Ossetia signed an agreement with the Scientific Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which provides for cooperation in social, economic, historical-cultural and other fields.

Culture

• The Ministry of Culture launched a competition entitled Children of the Planet Draw the World which describes post-war life and aims to preserve the memories of ancestors among new generations.
• The new, 19th issue of the Russian Word magazine was published which includes articles on the Russian language, literature, and history of Russia.

Activities of Non-Governmental Organizations

• On January 22, a meeting of the Presidium of the Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (АПРЯЛ) was held at the so-called State University of South Ossetia. The plans for 2022 were discussed during the meeting. Among the present were the Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo office, Sergey Skvortsov, and others.
• On January 24, an agreement was signed according to which the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly will open its office in the Tskhinvali region. The Assembly will cooperate with the region in the fields of culture, humanitarian, economy, etc.
• An online competition dedicated to the 77th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War is being held to test the knowledge about the 1941-1945 war. The organizers are the International Council of Russian Compatriots, the Governmental Commission of Compatriots Abroad, the World Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots, etc.
• On February 16, the Rossotrudnichestvo office hosted the qualifying round of the Russian competition Live Classics. Adults aged from 10 to 17 read prose works by Russian authors. The winners of the competition will go to the Artek International Children's Camp.
• On March 14, a creative competition dedicated to the Battle of Stalingrad ended in the Tskhinvali region. Students were to describe how they perceived the events of the Great Patriotic War. The event was organized by the public organization Rossy and the Rossotrudnichestvo office.

Winners of the Qualifying Round of the Live Classics Competition

Celebrating Historical Dates

• On February 10, an event dedicated to the date of Pushkin's death was held. Students of the “State” University and schoolchildren recited their favorite poems from Pushkin's work and laid flowers at his monument. Sergey Skvortsov also attended the event.
• On February 15, the day of Internationalist Soldiers was commemorated and flowers were laid at the memorial of those killed in the war. The event was attended by the de facto leaders of the region, military personnel and the Commander of the 4th military base, Roman Viazovsky, students, schoolchildren, the Russian “Ambassador,” Marat Kulakhmetov, and others.
• On the Defender of the Fatherland Day (February 23), military personnel of the 4th military base conducted Courage Lessons for schoolchildren. They talked about the history of the date, Russia's military success and the establishment of the 4th military base. On the same day, several students of the Tskhinvali N 1 School joined the pioneer organization Razgagonta.
• From February 28 to March 6, the Maslenitsa traditional Russian holiday was celebrated in the region. The event was organized by the Rossy public organization, the Russian Embassy and the Rossotrudnichestvo office.

Other Events

• On March 22, students of the Tskhinvali State University participated in a video conference DonbassbeZgenocida and unanimously condemned “crimes” committed by official Kyiv.
• The Tskhinvali region N2 School collected parcels for Ossetian soldiers fighting against Ukraine in Donbas. “War is not only a devastating event, but also a feat, human dignity, and the victory of good over evil. Therefore, the collection of parcels by the school has an ideological significance,” the school Principal, Olga Mikhailidi, stressed. The humanitarian campaign ended on March 31.
• Yunarmiya instructors will conduct lessons for schoolchildren at the 4th military base. The lessons will focus on the basics of safety and combat training, first aid provision, as well as the history of the Russian Federation and Ossetia. The event will be organized by the Rossotrudnichestvo office the Rossy public organization.

Russia’s soft power is an instrument of foreign policy, which the Kremlin actively uses to increase its influence abroad, including in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. Offices of the Federal Agency for CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs ensure the implementation of Russia’s soft power policy in the occupied regions of Georgia. Vadim Chekha was the Head of the Agency office in Abkhazia and Sergey Skvortsov is the Head of the Agency office in the Tskhinvali region