Publication: N42 / Review period:  June 1-30, 2022

Review 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.

Visits of Government Officials

Vitaly Gudin's Visit to Tskhinvali

On June 23, the de facto Prime Minister of the Tskhinvali region, Konstantin Jusoev, received a Russian delegation headed by Vitaly Gudin, the Director of the Department of Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The meeting discussed the progress of the 2020-2022 investment program, and the formation of the 2023-2025 investment program. As planned, a total of 20 projects will be implemented with Russian funding in the Tskhinvali region in 2022.

Dimitry Volvach’s Visit to Sokhumi

The Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dmitry Volvach, who oversees the occupied regions of Georgia in the Ministry, visited Sokhumi. On the first day, Mr. Volvach visited the ongoing projects under Russian funding. He met with the de facto President, Aslan Bzhania, on June 28, and with the de facto Prime Minister, Alexander Ankvab, on June 29. At the end of the visit, Dmitry Volvach gave an interview to a local television.

Igor Maslov's Visit to Sokhumi

On June 30, the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, hosted Igor Maslov, the Head of the Directorate for Interregional Relations and Cultural Contacts with Foreign Countries of the Russian Presidential Administration, who oversees the occupied regions of Georgia. Within the framework of his visit to Abkhazia, Mr. Maslov together with a Russian delegation visited the Russian funded projects which are under construction. According to him, the goal of the Russian side is to make sure that the socio-economic indicator of Abkhazia reaches the one of the Southern Federal District of Russia by 2025.

Meeting Between Aslan Bzhania and Igor Maslov. Source:  presidentofabkhazia.org

Ozgan's Meetings in Russia

On June 20, as part of her working visit to Moscow, Abkhazia's de facto Minister of Economy, Kristina Ozgan, met with representatives of the Ministries of Transport, Economic Development and Energy. At a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Energy, Yevgeny Grabchak, Ms. Ozgan discussed the issue of meter installation, petroleum price and the modernization of electrical networks. A meeting in the Ministry of Economy talked about lowering the prices of Russian oil products. In the Ministry of Transport, the issues of air traffic and crossing the Abkhazian-Russian “border” were discussed. Earlier, on June 17, within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Kristina Ozgan met with Dimitry Volvach.

Gagloyev's Meetings in Moscow and a “Referendum”

On June 15, during his visit to Moscow, the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloyev, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov. Key topics of bilateral relations and issues of foreign policy coordination were discussed at the meeting, including the progress of the Geneva International Discussions. Mr. Lavrov thanked Mr. Gagloyev for the provision of humanitarian assistance to the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. During the meeting, Sergey Lavrov positively assessed the de facto President’s decision on temporary opening of the so-called border checkpoints. On June 14, Alan Gagloyev met with the Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov.

On June 15, Moscow held consultations about holding a referendum on the accession of the de facto republic of the Tskhinvali region to Russia. On May 13, Gagloyev's predecessor, Anatoly Bibilov, decided to schedule a referendum on joining the Republic of South Ossetia to Russia. The referendum was scheduled for July 17. After Bibilov's defeat in the illegitimate presidential elections, Gagloyev postponed the referendum for an indefinite period; however, promised to hold consultations with Moscow on this issue.

From the Russian side, the meeting was attended by the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Russia, Dmitry Kozak; the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev; the Head of the Directorate for Interregional Relations and Cultural Contacts with Foreign Countries of the Russian Presidential Administration, Igor Maslov; the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, Rashid Nurgaliyev; the Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrey Rudenko;  the "Ambassador" of the Russian Federation to the Tskhinvali region, Marat Kulakhmetov; the Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation of the Presidential Administration, Sergey Bovenko. These persons oversee the directions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in Russia.

On June 16, while his visit in Moscow, Alan Gagloyev met with the Russian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Igor Zubov, who oversees the occupied regions of Georgia in the Ministry. The meeting discussed the issues of the implementation of the March 18, 2015 Alliance and Integration Agreement as well as various aspects of increasing the efficiency of the work of the Joint Information-Coordination Center of the Internal Affairs agencies, training of staff and activities in the field of law enforcement.

Military Exercises

The Russian Federation sent the major contingent of servicemen of the 4th and 7th military bases to fight against Ukraine in the Donbass region. Therefore, the number of military exercises in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region significantly reduced.

A detailed review of the activities of the Russian Military forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in June 2022 can be found here.

“General Prosecutors” Agreed on Cooperation

On June 9, the so-called Prosecutor General of Abkhazia signed an updated agreement on cooperation with the Prosecutor General of Russia. The Russian side will also help Abkhazians in professional training and raising their qualifications.

Meeting with Anna Kuznetsova

On June 10, the de facto Ombudsperson for Children's Rights of Abkhazia, Maktina Jinjolia, was received by the Deputy Chair of the Russian State Duma, Anna Kuznetsova, who previously was the Children's Rights Commissioner for the President of the Russian Federation.

Meeting in the State Duma. Source: sputnik-abkhazia.ru

Russia’s “Soft Power”

Kremlin Festival

The Aurasha Children's Dance Theater from Gudauta took the Grand Prix at a Kremlin Festival. The Kremlin Stars Festival was held in Moscow on June 11-13.

“Zvezda” Journalists

Journalists of the Zvezda TV channel of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation are making a film about the August 2008 war. The film will highlight the role of the Russian Armed Forces in resolving the conflict.

Memory of Russian “Peacekeepers”

On June 21, the memory of Russian “peacekeepers” was honored in Abkhazia. Servicemen of the de facto Armed Forces of Abkhazia laid flowers at the memorial of the fallen Russian soldiers.

Memorial of Russian Soldiers. Source:  sputnik-abkhazia.ru

Candle of Memory Actions

On June 21, the Candle of Memory action was held in Sokhumi, which was dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. Participants of the event laid flowers at the grave of the Unknown Soldier.

Rector of the “State” University Visits Moscow

Vadim Tedeev, the rector of the so-called State University of South Ossetia (ЮОГУ) paid a working visit to Moscow.