Publication:  N8 / Review period: October-December, 2022 / Author: Arsen Araqelov

Review of Russia’s Soft Power 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 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

 Culture

• The Igor Moiseev State Academic Ensemble was on tour in Abkhazia. The Prime Minister of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab, met with the People's Artist of Russia, the head of the ensemble, Elena Shcherbakova, and expressed gratitude for her special attitude towards Abkhazia.
• On October 6, 2022, the XXI International Art Festival “Peace to the Caucasus” started in Rostov. Abkhazia's “state” folk dance and song ensemble took part in the festival. One of the organizers of the festival was the Mayor of Rostov, Anna Dmitrieva.
• An evening devoted to Abkhazian literature was held for the first time at the Moscow State Road and Automobile Technical University.
• Moscow House in Sokhumi held a book exhibition “Literary Moscow.” The exposition featured Russian classical literature and modern works. As organizers noted, the exhibition is a bright event in the cultural-humanitarian cooperation between Moscow and Abkhazia.
• Moscow House in Sokhumi held a theatrical New Year's marathon with the support of the Moscow government. According to a representative of Moscow House, Maria Soya, the event was held for compatriot children, employees of the Border Division of the Russian Federal Security Service and the “Embassy” in occupied Abkhazia, as well as disabled children.

Education

• An advanced training course for citizens, civil servants and teachers was opened in Sokhumi. The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education and Language Policy of the de facto republic of Abkhazia and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia.
• The Ministry of Education of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia and Rosaviatsiya announce admissions to civil aviation universities. According to Russian House, 32 quotas have been allocated for applicants living in the occupied Abkhazia for the 2023-2024 academic year.
• The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia and the founder of the Future of Abkhazia platform, Inal Ardzinba, met with the Director of the Higher School of Public Administration under the office of the President of Russia, the General Director of the Russia - Country of Opportunities organization, Alexei Komisarov. The parties signed a new agreement which provides for the cooperation between the two platforms and internships for young people in Russia.
• With the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and the Russkiy Mir Foundation, the de facto republic of Abkhazia received more than 34,000 textbooks for the 10th and 11th grades. This is the second batch of textbooks which Russia supplies to occupied Abkhazia.
• According to Dmitry Fedotov, the Head of the Abkhaz office of the Agency for CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and the Federal Agency for International Humanitarian Affairs, the education-in-russia.com web-page which has been launched since December 23, 2022, is available for applicants living in occupied Abkhazia. The web-page, according to Fedotov, will help them prepare for exams.

Marking Historical Dates

• On October 7, 2022, “Strength in Truth” - a rally in support of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, took place in Sokhumi. The event was held on Putin's birthday.
• On November 7, 2022, an event dedicated to the Day of National Unity was held at the Moscow House - cultural and educational center in Sokhumi. This date has been celebrated in Russia since 2005, and it is also marked in occupied Abkhazia.
• Moscow House in Sokhumi annually holds events dedicated to historical dates related to WWII. An event held on December 2, 2022 was dedicated to the Battle for Moscow. The event was attended by students from Sokhumi schools. A film made with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture - 28 Panfilov, about the heroism of Soviet soldiers during the 1941 battle, was also screened during the event.

Event – Patriotic War. Source:   apsadgil.info

Medical Assistance

• Cardiologists invited from the city of Tomsk to occupied Abkhazia conducted medical examinations for 150 children.
• Doctors of the Dr. Shatalov Eye Microsurgery Center of Russia provided ophthalmic care to 888 citizens of occupied Gali, Tkvarcheli and Ochamchire.

Sports

• The Deputy Minister of Sports of Russia, Konstantine Bocharnik, and the coach of the Russian Fencing Federation, Alexander Chernyshev, presented fencing equipment to the Sports Committee of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia.

Tourism

• The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia, Beslan Jopua, was on a working visit to the Leningrad region. Jopua met with the Governor of the region, Alexander Drozdenko. The meeting discussed Issues of agriculture, culture and tourism. The “parties” agreed on future mutual cooperation and common projects in the field of tourism.

Other Events

• The Moscow cultural and educational center in Sokhumi - Moscow House, provided financial assistance to World War II veterans living in occupied Abkhazia.

Meeting with a World War II Veteran. Source: apsnypress.info

• After the start of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, McDonald's left the Russian market and sold its business, the license of which was purchased by Alexander Govor, the owner of “Vkusno I Tochka.” According to Govor, the restaurant is negotiating with McDonald's to open a restaurant chain in occupied Abkhazia. According to the Representative of the Russian Trade Mission in the de facto republic of Abkhazia, Oleg Bartsits, the franchise of the “Vkusno I Tochka” company has already been purchased and the operation of the restaurant chain in occupied Abkhazia is expected in 2023. The fact is that according to an agreement signed between McDonald's and “Vkusno I Tochka,” the new chain cannot open restaurants on the territory of the country where the American brand already operates, and since McDonald's operates in Georgia the part of which Abkhazia is considered, some difficulties arise.
• The State Archives of Russia handed over entries from the personal diary of the last Emperor of Russia, Nicholas II, to the State Archives of the de facto republic of Abkhazia. Nicholas II visited Gagra in 1912.
• The first volume of the Short Abkhaz Encyclopedia developed by the Abkhazia Scientific Research Center was published in St. Petersburg. The book includes more than 3000 biographical, geographical, historical, ethnographic and archaeological information about Abkhazia. The second volume will be published shortly.

Russia’s Soft Power in the Tskhinvali Region

Education  

• A series of lessons - Artificial Intelligence in Startups, was held in Russian House within the scope of a large-scale project - Digital Lesson.
• The Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots and Russian House organized a video competition in the Tskhinvali region. Competition participants read poems by the Russian poet, Marina Tsvetaeva. The competition was announced among schoolchildren and was dedicated to Tsvetaeva's 130th birthday. The students of the winning school were announced as candidates of the educational program - Hello, Russia - 2023! within the framework of which young people travel to Russia.
• Within the SputnikPro educational program, a lecture was held for media representatives of the Tskhinvali region. Anton Skripunov, a journalist of RIA Novosti, and Alexey Filipovsky, the Head of the Rossiya Segodnya information technology center, delivered a lecture to media representatives.
• In the de facto republic of the Tskhinvali region, the Russian Embassy and Russian House handed over 1000 textbooks to the Cadet School in occupied Tskhinvali.
• The Russian House office in the Tskhinvali region started registration of applicants for admission to Russian educational institutions. In the 2023-24 academic year, the number of quotas has not changed and is still determined at 23 places.
• On December 11-24, employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the de facto republic of the Tskhinvali region took an advanced training course at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
• According to Sergey Skvortsov, the Head of the Russian House office in the Tskhinvali region, the agency presented Russian language textbooks to the South Ossetian State University.

Marking Historical Dates

• A ceremonial reception was held in the de facto republic of the Tskhinvali region to celebrate the Day of National Unity of Russia, which Russia celebrates on November 4. The solemn event was attended by the so-called President, Alan Gagloyev, the Russian “Aambassador,” Marat Kulakhmetov and Russian compatriots.

Event – the Day of National Unity of Russia. Source:  cominf.org

Culture

• To celebrate the anniversary of South Ossetian State University, the public-educational magazine Russian Word in South Ossetia was published. This magazine is the only Russian-language publication in the Tskhinvali region whose first issue was published in 2013 to celebrate the 1150th anniversary of the creation of the Slavic alphabet.

Magazine - Russian Word in South Ossetia. Source:  cominf.org

Other Events

• On October 4, 2022, veterans of the so-called Peace Contingent of the Republic, members of the Veterans Organization of the Republic and the Russian Cossack Union Federation were awarded the medal For Military Devotion.
• A charity concert was held in the Java region for the support of soldiers fighting on the side of Russia in Ukraine. Children of the a of the Java region also attended the concert.

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. Dmitry Fedotov is the Head of the Agency office in Abkhazia and Sergey Skvortsov is the Head of the Agency office in the Tskhinvali region.