Monthly Review

Review of Russia’s Soft Power in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region

2023 / 04 / 01

Publication:  N9 / Review period: January-March, 2023 / Author: Arsen Araqelov 

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

  • The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the de facto republic of Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, met with students who were admitted to Russian higher education institutions with the support of the Future of Abkhazia center. This center was founded by Ardzinba, it locates in Moscow and has been operating since February 2022. The Future of Abkhazia center cooperates with the Russia - Country of Opportunity platform from November of the same year. According to the cooperation agreement, young people living in the de facto republic undergo internships in various institutions of Russia.
  • With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the de facto republic of Abkhazia, the author's project “Multipolarity” by Edgar Gvazava, the Adviser to Inal Ardzinba, was launched. According to Edgar, the project will help the Abkhaz society to combat against disinformation. Within the framework of the project, a cycle of lectures on world politics is planned. The project already hosted: Yevgeny Primakov, Boris Chernyshov and Maria Zakharova.
  • The Moscow House center in Sokhumi donated 200 fiction books to the “National Library of Abkhazia.”
  • The de facto Ministry of Economy and the Federal Agency for CIS countries, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs (hereinafter - Russian House) within the framework of the project to restore air traffic between Moscow and Sokhumi, determined 32 places for Abkhazian youth to study the civil aviation profession in Russian higher education institutions.
  • According to Dmitry Fedotov, the Head of Russian House, 110 places have been allocated for students living in the occupied Abkhazia to receive education in Russian higher education institutions in the 2023-2024 academic year. In addition, 14 places are reserved for 9th grade schoolchildren who want to continue studies at a Russian vocational school.

Culture

  • Moscow House in Sokhumi held an event to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Vladimir Vysotsky. This evening was held with the financial support of the Moscow government. During the event Vysotsky's visit to Abkhazia was also remembered.

Evening of Vladimir Vysotsky. Source: apsadgil.info

  • Russian House announced a grant competition for compatriot organizations operating in the occupied Abkhazia to hold various cultural events.

Marking Historical Dates

  • The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, sent a congratulatory letter on the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad to a 101-year-old Valentina Shulgina, who participated in the Battle and is living in the occupied Abkhazia. 

Vladimir Putin's Letter to a Veteran. Source: apsadgil.info

Other Events

  • Russian House hosted a round table – “the role of Russian archives in the documentary reconstruction of the heritage of the Republic of Abkhazia.” In addition to Abkhaz experts, lecturers of the Russian State Humanitarian University and Dmitry Fedotov attended the meeting.

Russia’s Soft Power in the Tskhinvali Region

Education  

  • The Russian House office in the occupied Tskhinvali region handed over 20,000 textbooks to the library fund of the Ministry of Education of the de facto republic. According to Sergey Skvortsov, the Head of the Russian House office in Tskhinvali, the mentioned event is another stage of the Education Development, Russian state program. Within the framework of the same program, Russian House donated 4,000 books to the de facto Ministry of Culture and 7,000 books to the “State University of South Ossetia.”

Gift of Russian House. Source: cominf.org

  • As a result of an online meeting between the Heads of the “State University of South Ossetia” and the Russian State Art Library, the university will get free access to the library's electronic resources.
  • Lecturers of the “State University of South Ossetia” took part in the All-Russian Scientific Conference – “Man and Society in the Context of Modernity.” The conference was held in Moscow. 
  • Polina Golubeva, the head of the content promotion department of the Russia Today media group, gave a lecture to representatives of the Ossetian media within the framework of the SputnikPro educational project.
  • According to a representative of Russian House, Alla Mandrazh, a total of 40 applicants from the occupied Tskhinvali region have filled out applications for admitting to Russian higher education institutions in the 2023-2024 academic year. For the 2023-2024 academic year, 22 seats were allocated for the de facto republic.
  • Graduates of a computer course which was organized by Russian House were awarded certificates.

Culture

  • On February 10, the day of Alexander Pushkin's death, with the support of Russian House, students, teachers and representatives of de facto institutions of the Tskhinvali “State University” paid tribute to the memory of the poet. A similar meeting was held in the occupied Akhalgori district.
  • An event dedicated to the memory of the Russian poet, Sergei Yesenin, was held in the “National Library.”

Support to Russia's Military Aggression in Ukraine

  • The de facto President, Alan Gagloyev, met with the Adviser to the Chairman of the Board of the Association of Combat Veterans of the Internal Affairs Bodies and Internal Troops of Russia, the writer, Ivan Solovyov. A presentation of Solovyov's book - Red Lines was held at the “State University of South Ossetia.” The book is the first work of art which deals with the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Gagloyev awarded Solovyov with the “Order of Honor.”
  • The “State University of South Ossetia” hosted an exhibition of documentary photo material - Tragedy of Donbas, which was dedicated to the anniversary of the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Exhibition - Tragedy of Donbas. Source: cominf.org

  • The “State University of South Ossetia” held a photo exhibition - Evidence of crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis and their accomplices.

Photo Exhibition. Source:  cominf.org

  • Russian House organized films screening on IR TV channel which describe the situation in the de facto People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk until February 24. The films are: “Donbas. The Way Home,” “Operation Ukraine. Crime without Punishment,” etc. 
  • Russian House organized an online action “Dedication to Angels. Witnesses of the Truth,” which was dedicated to the memory of the children killed in the occupied Donbas. It is possible to light a virtual candle at alleyaangelov.ru/.

Marking Historical Dates

  • A concert in Tskhinvali was dedicated to the Defenders of the Fatherland day. The concert was organized by the de facto administration of the occupied Tskhinvali. In addition, a short backgammon tournament was also held in connection with the same date.
  • A solemn event was held in Tskhinvali dedicated to the Defenders of the Fatherland day and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the de facto Defense Forces. At the event, the most important role of Russia in the creation of the so-called defense forces was noted. The Russian Defense Minister, Sergey Shoigu, congratulated the de facto agency with a congratulatory letter.
  • A concert dedicated to the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan was held in a Tskhinvali boarding school. According to local media, a total of 200 soldiers from the Tskhinvali region fought in Afghanistan and six of them died.

Concert Dedicated to the Withdrawal of Soviet Troops from Afghanistan. Source: cominf.org

Other Events

  • The Ministry of Defense of Russia awarded the “Order of Courage” to Erik Karkusov, an Ossetian fighter who participated in the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
  • The occupied Tskhinvali took over the baton of the anti-fascist patriotic project – “Our great estate.” The event was dedicated to the 78th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union in the Patriotic War. Relay participants and young people raised the Victory Banner.

Victory Banner. Source: cominf.org  

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.