Publication: N60 / Review period: December 1-31, 2023 / Author: Arsen Araqelov
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.
The 59th Round of the Geneva International Discussions
On December 5-6, the 59th round of the Geneva International Discussions was held in Switzerland. After the round, the head of the Russian delegation, the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikhail Galuzin, answered journalists' questions. Galuzin oversees the occupied regions in the ministry.
Galuzin answered a question of the Georgian public broadcaster about the murder of a Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi. As Galuzin said, he considers the use of the term “murder” incorrect since “the border guards acted following the instructions.” Russian militants killed Ginturi near the village of Kirbali, on November 6, 2023.
Galuzin again noted the necessity of signing a document on guarantees of non-use of force from Tbilisi. Also, according to him, after Switzerland joined the “unfounded, illegitimate sanctions developed by the collective West” against Russia and abandoned its traditional neutrality, Geneva may not be a platform for international negotiations in the future.
MPs Visit to Moscow
On December 12, at the invitation of the Chairman of the Russian Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, a delegation of the de facto parliament of Abkhazia took part in the 4th International Conference in Moscow – “The role of the interaction between factions and blocs in inter-parliamentary cooperation of the CIS countries.”
The moderator of the conference was Leonid Kalashnikov, the Chairman of the Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the State Duma. The conference discussed issues of development of inter-parliamentary relations of the CIS countries.
On the same day, delegations of Abkhazia and Russia held a meeting within the frame of the Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots. The Russian delegation was chaired by Kazbek Taisayev, Kalashnikov's first deputy.
At the meeting, the parties discussed the issue of easing the so-called border crossing procedure. Namely, cancellation of temporary imports on goods transferred through the Psou crossing checkpoint. The crossing checkpoint connects the de facto republic with Russia.
During the visit, on December 14, in Moscow, the Chairman of the State Committee for Youth and Sports of the de facto republic of Abkhazia, Tarash Khagba, met with the Minister of Sports of Russia, Oleg Matitsin.
Abkhaz Delegation Meets with Oleg Matitsin
On December 18, Volodin met with the chairmen of the so-called parliaments of Abkhazia, Tskhinvali and Belarus. Abkhazia was represented by the so-called parliament “Chairman” Lasha Ashuba, and the Tskhinvali region - by Alan Alborov. The meeting discussed “interparliamentary” cooperation and socio-economic issues.
Meetings with Russian Diplomats in the Middle East
On December 9, members of the Parliament of the de facto republic of Abkhazia visited the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul. The mentioned visit was preceded by a tour to the Middle East of the de facto Foreign Minister, Inal Ardzinba. During the tour, he visited Syria, Lebanon and Turkey.
The main purpose of Ardzinba's visit was to gain support for the international recognition of the de facto republic in the Middle East and to develop relations with the region’s countries. In addition to local high-ranking officials, Ardzinba met with the Russian Ambassador, Alexander Efimov, in Syria and with the Russian Ambassador, Alexander Rudakov, in Beirut. Russia is the main lobbyist of the recognition of the occupied Abkhazia.
Abkhaz “MPs” in Istanbul
Transfer of the “Bichvinta State Country House” to Russia
On December 20, Abkhaz opposition media reported that on December 28, the de facto parliament discussed the issue of handing over the Bichvinta state country house to Russia.
The government country house is stretched over 186 hectares of territory. Moscow leased the Bichvinta country house under the September 14, 1995 agreement which was renewed in January 2022. The de facto government supported the transfer of the country house to Russia for a long time, however, due to great internal opposition, the decision was delayed.
In the following days, the situation became tense. On December 26, opponents of the ratification of the agreement assembled near the “parliament” building. On the same day, information was spread that the “parliamentary session” would be held prematurely, in an accelerated manner, a day earlier. Finally, on December 27, early morning, the de facto parliament ratified the agreement and, despite the protests of the local population, the “government country house” was handed over to Russia. On the same morning, the de facto president, Aslan Bzhania, signed the agreement.
The Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia, Mikhail Shurgalin, responded to the December 26 events. He considered the criticism in the Abkhaz society unfounded since the Bichvinta state country house was handed over to the Russian government not as a gift, but on a 49-year lease. In addition, Shurgalin noted that the protests in Abkhazia may be dictated by non-governmental organizations, as he is not aware “for whom it is beneficial and who strives for it.”
Summary of the Year of Interaction Between Russian and Abkhaz “Agencies”
On December 27, a meeting between representatives of Abkhazia's de facto Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian Security Service took place in the Department of International Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The meeting reviewed the year of 2023 and the achieved results.
On December 28, the so-called Ambassador of Abkhazia to Russia, Alkhas Kvitsinia, met with Galuzin. At the meeting, the results of bilateral cooperation during the year were summed up.
Meeting between Alkhas Kvitsinia and Mikhail Galuzin
Summary of the Year and Announcements by Alan Gagloyev
On December 28, during a meeting with journalists, the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region reviewed several issues.
According to Gagloyev, the region will start preparing for the 2024 Russian presidential elections in the near future, since 98% of the population of the region are Russian citizens and they should be able to freely participate in the elections. Gagloyev said that “despite the difficult times,” he has no doubt that “the people of South Ossetia will be highly active and will vote for their supreme commander in March.”
In addition, Gagloyev stated that the development of relations with the Union State of Russia and Belarus is a priority for the foreign course of the region. He also recalled his meeting with Vladimir Putin which took place for the first and so far the last time on March 16, 2023. Gagloyev recalls how he told Putin behind the doors that “the Ossetians do not know treason” and received the answer from Putin – “I know.”
At the press conference, Gagloyev also mentioned the central government of Georgia and said that “until Georgia is placed in the fitting room of the European Union, South Ossetia has long been sitting at the same table with Russia.”