Publication:  N12 / Review period: October-December, 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 publication reviews 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 is of interest of wide audience – decision-makers, public employees, representatives of media and international governmental or non-governmental organizations and others, who are interested in the Kremlin’s policy in the occupied regions of Georgia.

 

Russia’s Soft Power in Abkhazia

Historical Dates and Events

• A historical-documentary exhibition, “We went to death to live,” dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the victory in the “Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia” (as they refer to the 1992-1993 Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the occupied Abkhazia) was opened in the Tambov region.

Exhibition

• On October 11, the day of the Republic of Bashkortostan, the de facto president, Aslan Bzhania, together with the Head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, took part in laying the symbolic stone for a future colonnade, the same as on the Makhadzhirov embankment in Sokhumi.
• On October 23, employees of the Russian Embassy and Moscow House visited veterans of the Battle for the Caucasus living in Abkhazia. They presented the veterans with congratulatory letters and flowers from the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

Culture

• On October 11, a poetry evening dedicated to Teacher's Day was held in Moscow House in Sokhumi. The guests of the event were “honored teachers” of the de facto republic and veteran teachers of the “Third War of the Abkhaz people.” The event was sponsored by the Moscow government.

Education

• A new academic year began at the Sunday School of Abkhaz Language, History and Culture at the “Embassy” of Abkhazia in Moscow. Those who wish can attend free classes.
• The Moscow government donated a physics and biology laboratory complex and computer equipment to the Sokhumi N 10 secondary school.
• The de facto Ministry of Health and the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University signed a cooperation memorandum.
• As part of a joint project, employees of the Ministry of Education of the de facto Republic, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia and the Federal University of the North Caucasus conducted a training course for Abkhaz teachers. According to a representative of the Federal University, the mentioned project is implemented by an order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, which provides for the harmonization of education systems of Russia and the de facto republic.
• The International Rescuer’s Training Center of Belarus sent an official notification to the de facto republic. As per the notification, the center invites for studying Abkhaz entrants, so-called future employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
• On December 10-23, at the All-Russian Children's Center – “Smena” in Anapa, a course for learning various professions was held for children. The course was attended by schoolchildren from 33 regions of Russia and the de facto republic. “Smena,” the only all-Russian training center, has been promoting various professional activities among children since 2017. Famous Russian athletes, public figures and politicians often visit the center.

Abkhaz Children in Anapa

Meetings and Conferences

• On October 25, Moscow House in Sokhumi hosted the first international Orthodox forum of educational, public and charitable organizations of Russia and Abkhazia. Heads of Orthodox public organizations from St. Petersburg, Kazan, Moscow and other Russian cities took part in the event.
• On November 24, within the framework of the Vzglyad 2023 journalistic competition, the de facto Prime Minister, Alexander Ankvab, met with Andrei Kondrashov, the Director General of the TASS Russian news agency. The meeting was attended by the Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia, Mikhail Shurgalin, and the Head of the representation office of the Federal Agency for the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs (hereinafter - Russian House) in Abkhazia, Dmitry Fedotov. The meeting discussed issues of cooperation between news channels as well as raising the qualifications of Abkhaz journalists. The Vzglyad competition was held in Abkhazia for the second year. This year it was dedicated to the memory of a TASS photo-correspondent Andrei Solovyov.

Other Events

• On October 7, a memorial plaque to the Hero of Abkhazia, Andrey Solovyov, was unveiled in Sokhumi. The Russian photojournalist, who would have turned 70 this year, died on September 27, 1993, in Sokhumi. According to Russian-Abkhaz sources, Solovyov “was killed by a shot of a Georgian sniper.” He was an ITAR-TASS employee and took many photos about the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1992-1993.

Memorial Plaque

• On December 4, a Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan visited occupied Abkhazia. She held a meeting with students at the State University of Abkhazia. She mentioned that she loves Abkhazia very much and visits it twice a year. Before the meeting with the students, Simonyan laid flowers at the monument of teachers and students who died in the “Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia.”

Russia's Soft Power in the Tskhinvali Region

Historical Dates and Events

• On October 11, Russian House hosted a round table dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union in the battle for the Caucasus.
• On October 30, an international conference dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Lokhov, the Head of the 1st Main Directorate of the Security Committee of the Soviet Union, was held in St. Petersburg. Lokhov originated from the Tskhinvali region. The conference was also dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the “Intelligence Service” of the de facto republic. The event was organized by the so-called embassy of the region in Russia and the government of St. Petersburg. The establishment of a Lokhov monument in the region is also being considered.

Cuture

• In October, a festival “Ossetia-Russia: common cultural heritage“ was held in Tskhinvali. The festival was dedicated to the 120th anniversary of a writer Gaito Gazdanov. The opening ceremony was attended by the Russian Ambassador to the region, Marat Kulakhmetov, and a newly appointed head of the Russian House office in the region, Sergey Komissarov. As part of the festival, on October 23, a street exhibition about the inhabitants of the Russian Empire, who significantly contributed to the cultural and scientific heritage of the whole world, was opened on the Theater Square. The festival was planned by the Russian Heritage Foundation Abroad.

Street Exhibition on the Theater Square

• Leading up to the New Year, with the support of the World-Bridge-Ossetia Foundation, the Ossetian TV-radio company Ir  broadcasted 100 feature films recommended by the Ministry of Culture of Russia.

Education

• On October 12, during a meeting with senior student wishing to continue their studies in Russian higher education institutions, Komissarov introduced them advantages of the institutions.
• The “State University of South Ossetia” and the North Caucasus State Academy signed a cooperation memorandum.
• The Russian Heritage Foundation Abroad donated 200 books to a Java boarding school within the frame of the Ossetia-Russia: Common Cultural Heritage festival. A total of 110 children study in the school.

Java Boarding School Students with Russian books

• On October 27, a young Russian artist Dmitry Shcherbakov held a master class was at the Tskhinvali Art School. The event was organized the Rossy compatriots' organization with the support of Russian House.
• On December 20, Komissarov presented textbooks to the Erudite school and the Orthodox gymnasium – Rukh

Komissarov in the Orthodox Gymnasium

• In November, schools of the region joined the Geographic Dictation, which, in addition to the de facto republics, is being held in Russia and many other countries for the ninth time. The region has been participating in the event since 2019. Komissarov handed gifts to the winners of the dictation.
• Doctors invited from Russia conducted a first aid master class for nurses of the Emergency Centers of the region.
• The team of the Tskhinvali N 2 school became a diploma winner of the Best Russian School Abroad competition. The competition comprises schools from 54 countries, including the de facto republic. The event was organized by Russian House.
• On December 4-8, employees of the de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended a training course at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
• Komissarov awarded certificates to graduates of the Improving Computer Literacy course in Russian House.
• On December 29, Komissarov visited an Akhalgori orphanage and presented gifts to the children. According to him, Russian House will help the children to enter Russian schools within the allocated quotas.
• On November 16, Komissarov met with schoolchildren at the Republican Children's Library. The students participated in several contests of the People of Artek international project funded by the Russian government. Within the frame of the program, Russian House will send the winners of various competitions to the Artek International Children's Camp in the Russian-annexed Crimea. In addition to the de facto republics, the program is being held in about 50 countries and is leading up to the 2025 centenary celebration of the “camp.”
• The Open Education Center continues its activity in the occupied Akhalgori district. The center was opened in June at the initiative of the Armavir State Pedagogical University within the frame of the Development of Education Russian state program. On November 17, teachers of an Ikoti secondary school completed the training course of the center. The teachers studied the general educational program in Russian. Until 2017, teaching in the schools of the district was conducted in Georgian language, therefore, the center is trying to retrain teachers in Russian language. On December 8, teachers of Tsingari and Orchosan secondary schools were also awarded certificates. In June, the center was opened in the Gali district of occupied Abkhazia.

Certificates to Ikoti School Teachers

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 Komissarov is the Head of the Agency office in the Tskhinvali region.