Publication:  N27 / Review period: November 1-30, 2022 / Author: Elene Mindiashvili

Review of the Activities of the Russian Military Forces in Abkhazia and the Tkshinvali 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.

*Note: The review does not include information about military personnel of the 4th and 7th military bases and volunteers from Abkhazia or the Tskhinvali region who are fighting in the Russian war against Ukraine.

** Note: The Russian Federation dispatched a major part of military personnel of the 4th and 7th military bases to the Donbass region to fight against Ukraine. Therefore, the number of military exercises in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region has been significantly reduced.

*** Joint exercises with the participation of the Russian military were not held in the occupied regions of Georgia in November.

Russian Military Forces in Abkhazia

Exercises of the De Facto Armed Forces

• Reserve soldiers from Sokhumi and Gudautia practiced the use of weapons in the occupied village of Eshera.

Other Activities

• The de facto Prime Minister, Alexander Ankvab, met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Sergey Pustovalov, to discuss the prospects of strengthening Abkhazia's defense capabilities. The Head of the Capital Construction Department and the de facto Deputy Minister of Defense also attended the meeting. Ankvab instructed his colleagues to keep records of military inventory on the balance sheet of the Ministry and inspect the military infrastructure.

Russian Military Forces in the Tskhinvali Region

Military Cooperation Between the Tskhinvali Region and Russia  

• On November 14-17, a delegation of the de facto Ministry of Defense, chaired by the so-called Minister of Defence, Marat Pavlov, paid a visit to Moscos where they met with the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Rear Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov. The meeting discussed strengthening of existing agreements between the parties and deepening of future cooperation. Special emphasis was placed on the opening a military department at the State University of the de facto South Ossetia.

Meeting Between the Ossetian Delegation and Vladimir Vorobyov. Source:  alaniamil.org

Exercises of the De Facto Armed Forces

• On November 1, personnel of the Service and Supply Service of the Defense Forces of the Tskhinvali region underwent fire training exercises.
• Sergeants and commanders of units of the de facto Defense Forces underwent educational and methodological training.
• Recruits of the de facto Defense Forces underwent field training exercises.

Other Activities

• Servicemen of the Special Forces Battalion of the de facto Ministry of Defense of the Tskhinvali region passed the qualifying test for the right to wear a blue beret. The de facto Defense Minister, Marat Pavlov, presented them blue berets at a solemn ceremony.

 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 locates 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.