Publication: N27 / Review Period: December 1-31, 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

Energy Crisis and Russian Aid

In Abkhazia, the energy crisis of November-December 2024 evoked memories of the post-war period of 1992-1993, when the entire territory of Abkhazia was supplied with electricity on a strict schedule. From December 9, electricity supply during the day was reduced to 4 hours and 40 minutes, and from December 11 - to 2 hours and 48 minutes.

Due to the low power generation of the Enguri HPP during this period of the year, the HPP cannot provide Abkhazia with enough electricity, so at night electricity is supplied from Russia at a commercial price. The problem is exacerbated by the presence of illegal cryptocurrency mining farms. According to the head of Chernomorenergo, Timur Jinjolia, Abkhazia receives 2.1 million kWh per day from the Enguri HPP, of which half is needed for cryptocurrency generation.

According to Jinjolia, between November 1 and December 16, a total of 165 million kWh of electricity was purchased at a cost of RUB 665 million. He noted that the funds originally allocated for electricity purchases were instead used to pay salaries after Russia halted RUB 1.5 billion in funding.

Amid the electricity shortage, demand for liquefied gas has risen, with consumption reaching 15 to 18 tons every three to four days. The supply of liquefied gas also comes from Russia.

To alleviate the crisis, the de facto Acting President, Badra Gunba, requested humanitarian electricity supplies from Russia. Moscow approved the request, and since December 23, Abkhazia has been receiving so-called social electricity, limiting power outages to just two hours each day and night. In this context, Gunba’s request and Moscow’s swift response have fueled speculation that he may be the Kremlin’s favored candidate in the upcoming illegitimate presidential elections.

Murder in the „Parliament“

The energy crisis escalated into a violent confrontation within the de facto parliament, resulting in the death of a „deputy“ during a dispute on December 19. The incident took place during a meeting of the Economic Policy and Reforms Committee, where a „draft law“ proposing a ban on cryptocurrency mining was under discussion. During a brawl between „deputies“ Kan Kvarchia and Adgur Kharazia, Kharazia fired his weapon four times, injuring Kvarchia. Vakhtang Golandzia, who attempted to break up the fight, succumbed to his injuries.

Vakhtang Golandzia

Following the incident, Gunba convened an emergency meeting with law enforcement officials and visited Kvarchia in the hospital. On December 19, he also called an urgent session of the so-called Security Council.

Kharazia remains in hiding as law enforcement agencies continue search operations to determine his whereabouts. On December 21, the de facto parliament revoked Kharazia’s immunity, after which the so-called General Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal case against him. On December 24, unknown individuals fired shots at Kharazia’s residence. Given the escalating tensions, the de facto parliament proposed on December 25 that the Council of Elders mediate the inter-clan conflict.

Adgur Kharazia, born in 1959, has held various prominent positions. He served as head of the Gulripsh district from 1993 to 2002, followed by a brief tenure as the so-called Minister of Agriculture from 2002 to 2003. Between 2014 and 2019, he led the so-called Sokhumi administration. He was elected as a member of the de facto parliament in 2007, 2012, and 2022. Reports indicate that in December 2020, Kharazia wounded someone in Sokhumi, but no criminal case was ever filed.

“Presidential Elections”

Preparations for early illegitimate presidential elections, scheduled for February 15, have begun in Abkhazia. According to reports, former de facto president Aslan Bzhania will not participate, while the de facto Vice President and Acting President, Badra Gunba, will run for the “presidency.” On December 18, the so-called Central Election Commission registered an initiative group tasked with collecting at least 2,000 signatures from “voters” to officially nominate Gunba as a “presidential” candidate. All nominated candidates must pass an Abkhaz language proficiency test. As of now, eight candidates are expected to contest the “election”: Badra Gunba, Adgur Ardzinba, Oleg Bartsits, Robert Arshba, Adgur Khurkhumali, Shamil Adzinba, Kan Kvarchia and Beslan Kvitsinia. However, the number of candidates may change. The final list will be determined by the so-called Central Election Commission one month before the “election.” 

Who Will Receive Salaries?

Following the suspension of funding from Russia, Abkhazia is facing significant difficulties in paying salaries. On December 9, the so-called Minister of Finance, Vladimir Delba, announced that salaries would be paid in stages, starting with representatives of the so-called law enforcement agencies, followed by employees of the so-called Immigration Service, Ministries of Emergency Situations, Taxes and Revenues, State Customs Committee personnel, and finally, social workers.

Since November, Russia has fully suspended co-financing salaries for employees in the "budgetary" sector. As a result, Abkhazia will not receive the RUB 1.8 billion in Russian aid that was expected to cover these costs by the end of the year. This decision came after the de facto government refused to ratify a so-called investment agreement, which would have granted Russian investors various benefits for conducting business in occupied Abkhazia. The agreement faced opposition from certain political factions and segments of the population, who found it unacceptable due to the benefits it granted Russian investors for doing business in occupied Abkhazia.

Opposing the Investment Agreement

On December 3, at an emergency session, members of the de facto parliament voted against the ratification of the so-called investment agreement signed between Russia and Abkhazia. The issue had sparked a political crisis in November, leading to the resignation of the de facto president, Aslan Bzhania, and the appointment of an early illegitimate presidential elections.

De Facto Parliament Session   

Why was a Romanian Citizen Detained?

According to the so-called Security Service, a Romanian citizen, David Kerch Adrian, was arrested in Abkhazia on December 13 as part of efforts to combat foreign intelligence agencies. The so-called Security Service claimed that Adrian was acting on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence and attempting to gather information on military facilities using a drone. Several individuals have previously been arrested on similar charges, accused of collaborating with Georgian intelligence agencies.

Detained Romanian Citizen

„Abkhazian Cultural Evenings“ in Scotland

On December 23, “Abkhazian Cultural Evenings” were held in the Scottish cities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The event was organized by Ritsa Ankvab, a representative of the so-called Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia in Scotland. Reportedly, the event was attended by representatives of the city halls and university, businessmen and representatives of the cultural sphere. During the evening, a film about Abkhazia was screened in English and a tasting of Abkhazian dishes and wine was held as part of the „Gastronomic Abkhazia“ project. Ritsa Ankvab has served as the representative of the so-called Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia in Scotland for years. According to publicly available information, Ankvab met with the Mayor of Kilmarnock, Scotland, as early as 2014.

“Abkhazian Cultural Evenings”

New Resource Center in Gali

The representation of the Federal Agency for CIS Countries, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Abkhazia has opened a resource center at the Gali N1 Secondary School. The center aims at promoting the study of the Russian language as well as organizing cultural and educational events. The opening of the center was attended by a representative of the Agnecy, Vladislav Kulikov. The first such resource center was opened in Sokhumi. The Gali district, which is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Georgians, has seen education in the Georgian language banned for several years. As a result, ethnic Georgians now receive education in Russian. This policy is part of a broader strategy to Russify the local population and undermine Georgian identity.

Resource Center Opening in Gali

Plans of Inal Ardzinba

The former de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs, Inal Ardzinba, who was dismissed from the post in May 2024, has recently re-emerged in the public eye. According to Ardzinba, he plans to invite young Abkhaz scientists to work at a technological hub in Sochi, set to open in 2025. Ardzinba has been the Chairman of the supervisory board of „AVA Tech“ since November. Notably, Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan is also a member of the board. After leaving his „ministerial“ post, Ardzinba had intended to find a job in Moscow, but was unsuccessful in securing a position.

Tskhinvali Region

Military Cooperation with Moscow

On December 6, the de facto parliament of the Tskhinvali region ratified an agreement on the development of military-technical cooperation with Russia. According to the de facto speaker, Alan Margiev, the agreement is significant as it ensures additional assistance and support from their strategic partner. Earlier, on November 23, the Russian President signed a federal law “On Ratification of the Agreement on the Development of Military-Technical Cooperation with South Ossetia.”

The agreement, signed on August 23, 2023, is aimed at enhancing cooperation in the military-technical sphere. It outlines the procedures for the supply of military products. It is important to note that the occupied region has virtually no local armed forces, or their numbers are minimal. The former de facto president, Anatoly Bibilov, faced sharp criticism for reducing the size of the so-called armed forces.

The security of the occupied region is entirely maintained by Russia's 4th military base, where members of the local population can also serve. Several ethnic Ossetian servicemen are currently participating in Russia's military aggression in Ukraine.

Meeting Between the „Ministers“ of Emergency Situations

On December 3, in Moscow, the Russian Minister of Emergency Situations, Alexander Kurenkov, met with the de facto Minister of Emergency Situations of the Tskhinvali region, Ibragim Gaseev. According to the Russian side, the parties were discussing the issue of transferring new special equipment to Tskhinvali. As per Kurenkov’s statement, the Russian side will also assist Tskhinvali in repairing existing special equipment and organizing a videoconference system.

Meeting in Moscow

New ATMs in Tskhinvali

As the head of the so-called National Bank, Soslan Bekoev, announced, there are plans to increase the number of ATMs in Tskhinvali and its surrounding regions. New ATMs will be located in the city administration and the South Ossetian State University. At this stage, there is one ATM in each district of the city, which is considered sufficient for the time being. The „bank’s“ goal is to install additional ATMs to meet growing demand. According to Bekoev, 40% of employees of “state organizations” are currently clients of the National Bank and hold bank cards of the MIR payment system.

Bekoev also stated that the „Alanya Investment Bank,“ which was registered in June 2024, will soon start operation in the region. The bank will offer consumer loans to the population.

In contrast to Abkhazia, the banking system in the Tskhinvali region is underdeveloped. It relies entirely on Russia for its operations and lacks the capability to function on an international level.

Overthrow of Assad and Response of the Occupied Regions

On December 10, the de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Tskhinvali region issued its first statement following the December 8 overthrow of Syria's Bashar al-Assad. The statement was neutral in tone, expressing a general interest in maintaining Syria's unity and territorial integrity. Notably, a previous statement released on November 29 had been supportive of Assad, labeling his opponents, who later seized power, as a terrorist organization.

At this point, the future of the so-called Embassy of Abkhazia in Syria remains uncertain. However, it has been confirmed that Russia has facilitated the evacuation of one staff member from the “embassy.”

Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

On December 17, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) published its judgment in the case of Taganova and Others v. Georgia and Russia, holding Russia fully responsible for the violations of property rights in occupied Abkhazia. The case concerned complaints filed by six applicants, four Georgians and two Russians, who were denied access to their homes and property in Abkhazia following the hostilities in the region. The Court found violations of Article 1 (protection of property) and Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of Protocol No. 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The court reiterated that Russia exercises effective control over Abkhazia and has failed to ensure the property rights of individuals, in particular Georgian citizens, in the occupied territory. “They should have taken measures to protect these rights, including by providing an easily accessible and flexible legal mechanism. They failed to do so. Accordingly, the violation of the rights of these applicants was caused by the Russian Federation,” the court’s press release states.

The ECHR reiterated that Russia exercises effective control over Abkhazia and has failed to secure the property rights of individuals, particularly Georgian citizens, in the occupied territory. “They should have taken steps to protect those rights, such as providing an easily accessible and flexible legal mechanism. They had failed to do so. Accordingly, the breach of these applicants’ rights was attributable to the Russian Federation,” the Court’s press release stated.