Publication: N26 / Review Period: November 1-30, 2024

The review is being prepared within the framework of the Roadmap to the Kremlin's Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region project. The purpose of the review is to provide readers with information about the main events and trends in the occupied regions of Georgia. The review is a monthly publication and will be useful for decision-makers, public employees, media representatives and other people interested in the developments that take place in the occupied regions of Georgia.

Abkhazia

Political Crisis and Aslan Bzhania’s Resignation

The political crisis that began in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia on November 15 ended with an agreement between the de facto government and opposition representatives. According to the agreement, the de facto President Aslan Bzhania resigned on November 19, several months before the expiration of his term. Unlike previous cases, this time Russian government officials supervising the region were not directly involved in resolving the political crisis.

The political crisis was accelerated by the issue of ratification of the so-called investment agreement, which was signed by the Russian Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, and the de facto Minister of Economy of Abkhazia, Kristina Ozgan, in Moscow on October 30. According to the de facto government, this was the only way to attract investments to Abkhazia, while, the opposition believes that the ratification of the agreement would put local entrepreneurs and Russian oligarchs on an unequal footing - the latter will receive a number of benefits, while the Abkhazians will ultimately lose their jobs and source of income.

New illegitimate early presidential elections will be held on February 15, in which Bzhania expressed his intention to run again.

For more information about the political crisis in the occupied Abkhazia, see the article.

Foreign Politicy Activities

• In November, the „Ambassador“ of Abkhazia to Syria, Muhammad Ali, was particularely active. On November 3, he met with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Syria, Muhammad Ghazi al-Jalali, and on November 7, with the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade of Syria, Muhammad Rabia Kalaaja. Kalaaja is also the Co-Chairman of the Abkhazian-Syrian Economic Cooperation Committee.

Meeting Between Muhammad Ali and Muhammad Ghazi al-Jalali

• On November 7, the Chairman of the so-called State Committee for Repatriation of Abkhazia, Vadim Kharazia, met with the Russian Ambassador to Egypt, Georgy Borisenko.

Meeting in Egypt

• On November 7, the de facto Deputy Foreign Minister, Odyssey Bigvava, met with the so-called Honorary Consul of Abkhazia to China, Ke Zhili, who periodically visits Abkhazia and tries to lobby Abkhazian interests in China. He visited Abkhazia in March as well.

Container Terminal in Ochamchire

As the Advisor to the de facto Minister of Economy, Oktay Khazirishi, announced the construction of a container terminal in Ochamchire is nearing completion. An intermodal container terminal is being built near the port of Ochamchire with the aim of developing an international transport corridor. The construction is being carried out within the framework of a preferential loan, which is being implemented by the occupied Abkhazia with the Russian support. According to Khazirishi, there is great interest from container shipping companies-operators.

The terminal, 250 meters in lenght and 500 meters – in width, will be connected to a railway line and platforms will be arranged for unloading cargo from wagons. The terminal will have the capacity to accommodate 1,200 containers at a time.

The construction of the container terminal and the increased revenues of Abkhazian Railway in recent years indicate that the Ochamchire port is actively used for cargo transportation, especially between Russia and Turkey. Although Turkey recognizes the territorial integrity of Georgia, ships of individual Turkish companies are involved in cargo transportation and fishing in the waters of the occupied Abkhazia. In turn, Russia, sanctioned by the West, uses Abkhazian infrastructure for illegal trade to circumvent sanctions.

Lukashenko’s Abkhazian Business

On October 13, the Belarusian Investigative Center (BIC) published an investigation which reads that after a visit of the Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, to Abkhazia on September 28, 2022, a total of 20 hectares of land were transferred to a company (Zhemchuzhina 2010) controlled by him for the „implementation of a large investment project,“ which envisages the construction of a sanatorium and a health resort complex in the village of Kyndyg, the Ochamchire district, on the Black Sea coast. According to media reports, the land plot was transferred to the company associated with Lukashenko on September 29, 2022.

According to available data, 90% of the company belongs to a Belarusian citizen. Ultimately, the company is linked to Viktor Sheiman, a former Head of a department in Lukashenko’s administration. Sheiman, who has not officially held office since June 2021, attended Lukashenko’s meetings with Bzhania, both in September 2022 in Bichvinta and in Minsk in February 2023.

As per the BIC, the „Prosecutor General“ of Abkhazia, Adgur Agrba, „rudely responded“ to a BIC request which sought some clarification from „Prosecutor’s Office“ referring to the investigation it published about Lukashenko’s interests in Abkhazia. According to reports, no construction has been carried out on the territory transferred to Lukashenko so far.

Tskhinvali Region

What Caused the Rise in Fuel Price?

In 2024, the price of fuel in the Tskhinvali region increased by RUB 6. If in January the price of AI-92 fuel was RUB 54, in August its price totaled  RUB 56, and from November 1 – RUB 60. Fuel in the region is mainly sold at the so-called state-owned Yugosetnefteproduct gas stations and is supplied from Russia. The increase in fuel prices is due to the increase in the purchase price from Russia.

Sanctions on Anatoly Bibilov

On November 7, as part of a package of sanctions against Russia, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the former leader of the occupied Tskhinvali region, Anatoly Bibilov. The 56 new sanctions target suppliers that support Russian military production, as well as Russian-backed mercenary groups operating in sub-Saharan Africa, three Kremlin-linked private mercenary groups, and 11 individuals associated with the occupied territories. Bibilov was targeted for his ties to Kremlin-linked private mercenary groups and was subject to an asset freeze, travel ban, and trust services sanctions.

„Anatoly Ilyich Bibilov is or has been involved in destabilising Ukraine, undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as he is involved in, supports or facilitates any policy or action which destabilises Ukraine, undermines or threatens its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence,“ the UK government said in a statement.

Meeting with a Government Official 

On November 14, as part of his visit to Moscow, the de facto president of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloyev, met with the Deputy Chairman of the Russian government, Alexander Novak, who supervises the direction of the occupied regions in the Russian government. According to Tskhinvali, the meeting discussed the implementation of the state program for the socio-economic development of the region for 2022-2025. The parties also talked about the supply of electricity and petroleum products from Russia to the Tskhinvali region.

Meetings in the State Duma

On November 26, in Moscow, the Chairman of the de facto parliament of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Margiev, met with the Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin. According to Tskhinvali, the meeting discussed „issues of effective development of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.“ On November 25-27, a Tskhinvali delegation participated in the annual inter-factional conference – „The role of relations between factions of political parties and blocs in inter-parliamentary cooperation of the CIS countries.“ During his visit to the State Duma, Margiev also met with members of the United Russia and the A Just Russia - for Truth factions. Volodin is active in the direction of the occupied regions and periodically hosts „parliamentary“ delegations from the occupied regions.

Meeting Between Alan Margiev and Vyacheslav Volodin

Military Cooperation with Moscow

On November 23, the Russian President signed a federal law ratifying an agreement on the development of military-technical cooperation with South Ossetia.

The agreement was signed on August 23, 2023. The goal of the agreement is to develop cooperation in the military-technical sphere. It determines the procedure for the supply of military products. It should be noted that there are no local Armed Forces in the occupied region any more, the number of which is minimal. The former de facto president, Anatoly Bibilov, was sharply criticized for reducing the number of the so-called Armed Forces.

The security of the occupied region is fully ensured by the 4th military base of the Russian Ministry of Defense, where the local population can also serve military service. A number of ethnic Ossetian servicemen are currently participating in the Russian military aggression in Ukraine.

The 122nd IPRM Meeting in Ergneti

On November 19, the 122nd Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting was held in Ergneti. According to Irakli Antadze, the Deputy Director of the Analytical Department of the State Security Service of Georgia, the main issue on the meeting’s agenda was the release of Georgian citizens illegally detained by the occupation forces and as well as the issue of so-called „borderization.“ At the moment, nine Georgian citizens are illegally detained by the Tskhinvali occupation forces. Antadze also stated that the discussion touched on the issue of illegal „borderization.“ „We once again raised the case of the murder of Tamaz Ginturi,” Antadze stated.

According to the head of the Ossetian delegation, Yegor Kochiev, the Ossetian side raised the issue of violation of the so-called state border by unmanned aerial vehicles and citizens. Kochiev also spoke about the increasing cases of cigarette smuggling and vandalism. He also spoke about the abolition of the Georgian police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana.

The next IPRM meeting is scheduled for early February 2025.

The 62nd Round of Geneva International Discussions

The 62nd round of the Geneva International Discussions was held on November 5-6. According to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the meeting, the Georgian delegation focused on the need to implement the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement signed by Russia with the mediation of the European Union, and on the return of internally displaced persons and refugees from the occupied territories to their homes.

A statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry says that it is important that the conciliatory signals coming from Tbilisi turn into practical steps and that Tbilisi undertakes an obligation to refrain from using force against the occupied territories, as well as to begin the process of delimitation and then demarcation with Tskhinvali and Sokhumi. The Russian Foreign Ministry says that since Switzerland has actually lost its neutral status after joining the EU’s „full package of illegal anti-Russian sanctions,“ the issue of relocating the Geneva talks to another location has been raised again. Sokhumi and Tskhinvali also support Moscow in this matter. 

According to Abkhaz sources, the resumption of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali was the main element of the discussion, with representatives of all delegations reaffirming their readiness to restore the mechanism. However, the conflicting positions of the parties on the technical side of the IPRM meetings were cited as an obstacle. In the second working group, Abkhaz participants focused on the freedom of movement of citizens holding so-called „national passports.“

Tskhinvali representatives also highlighted the issue of the agreement on the non-use of force. They emphasized the effective functioning of the IPRM, which ensures stability in the occupied region. Tskhinvali again called on Tbilisi to begin joint work on the delimitation and demarcation of the so-called state border. This time, Tskhinvali spoke about „the gross violations of the rights of Ossetians in the Truso Gorge, the Kazbegi municipality, who have been unable to visit their homes and lands for years due to the bans imposed by the Georgian authorities.“

The next round of the Geneva International Discussions will be held in March 2025.

The 62nd Round of the Geneva International Discussions