In May 2020, due to the new Coronavirus pandemic, traffic between Russia and the occupied regions of Georgia was restricted. Nevertheless, the newly elected „president“ of Abkhazia paid a visit to Moscow. The pandemic has affected all areas. Instead of military exercises, military personnel were engaged in disinfection. Events related to May 9 were also modestly carried out to prevent the spread of the disease. The article provides an overview of the major events that took place in May 2020 in connection with the Kremlin policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region.

May 2020 Important Developments Shortly                                                                                                       

• Visit to Russia: The newly elected „president“ of Abkhazia paid the first „official“ visit to Moscow.
• Military exercises: compared to previous months, number of military exercises held at the Russian military bases deployed in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region has decreased due to the new Coronavirus pandemic.
• Cooperation in the field of security: in the Tskhinvali Region, Russian border guards celebrated professional day.
• Cooperation in the field of law enforcement: In the Tskhinvali Region, employees of law enforcement agencies received increased salaries.
• Investment programs: Agreement on financial assistance to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region was signed in Moscow.
• Cooperation in the field of agriculture: Russia will financially assist Abkhazia in the fight against the Asian bugs this year as well.
• Cooperation in the social field: Russian pensions illegal receipt of was discussed in Abkhazia.
• „Soft power“: The 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War was modestly celebrated due to the new Coronavirus pandemic.

Visit to Russia

On May 5, 2020, new "President" of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, visited Moscow. Bzhania's "presidential" inauguration took place on April 23, and it was his first visit to Russia in the rank of "president". Information on the visit details is not available till now. Considering that in Moscow Bzhania was accompanied by de facto Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Vladimir Delba and de facto Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Kristina Ozgan, might be assumed that the visit purpose was to get financial support for Abkhazia during the economic crisis caused by the new Coronavirus.

Military Exercises

Compared to the previous months, number of military exercises carried out at the military bases deployed in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region decreased due to the new Coronavirus pandemic. Under the pandemic, military servicemen carried out disinfection works as a priority. Servicemen were also actively involved in the events connected to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

News of the 7th military base in Abkhazia

• On May 14, a military serviceman returning from Dagestan has tested positive for the new Coronavirus. The serviceman is undergoing treatment at the 7th military base infirmary.
• Compared to the same period last year, number of seasonal diseases among the military base servicemen has decreased by 15%.სპრუ
• On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War, the  military base servicemen together with the employees of Abkhazian Defense Ministry  spruced up more than 30 military-memorial facilities in two weeks.
• The military base servicemen visited Tsatsi Tkebuchava, a 99-year-old war veteran living in Sokhumi.
• On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the military base servicemen marched on trucks through the streets of Abkhazia accompanied by the songs of the times of the war. The servicemen congratulated war veterans, and honoured memorial complexes.

News of the 4th military base in the Tskhinvali Region

• Planned preparation of weapon and military equipment transition for the operation in summer period has been completed at the military base. In a few weeks, up to 1,000 units of weapon and military equipment were checked at the checkpoints and in Tskhinvali and Java.
• On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the military base servicemen marched on trucks through the streets of Tskhinvali accompanied by the songs of the times of the war. The 4th military base servicemen sang the war songs near the houses of the veterans.

Cooperation in the Field of Security

The Border Division of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, dislocated in the Tskhinvali Region, celebrated the Day of Border Guard. De facto President of the Tskhinvali Region Anatoly Bibilov congratulated the Russian border guards on their professional day. According to the Head of the Border Division Vladimir Schemelinin, the Division is cooperating with [de facto] Border Division of the Tskhinvali Region to take effective measures to protect [de facto] state border of the Tskhinvali Region with Georgia. Since May 28, 2019, border guards have detained 172 violators of the state border and its regime and 272 violators of the border regime, said he.

Cooperation in the Field of Law Enforcement

As de facto Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Tskhinvali Region announced the agency employees received increased salaries. The salary increase is the outcome of the protocol signed in Moscow, on April 30, 2020, by de facto ambassador of the Tskhinvali Region to Russia Znaur Gasiev and Igor Zubov Russia's Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and the curator to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. The protocol expired on December 31, 2019. Signing of the new protocol was delayed due to the new Coronavirus spread threat

Investment Programs

Agreement on financial assistance to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region was signed in Moscow

On May 12, 2020, in Moscow, representatives of the Russian Federation and Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region signed an agreement on financial assistance to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. The agreement aims at Russia to implement budgetary investments in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region and support investment activities. Agreement on financial assistance promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region was also signed,

The agreements were signed by Abkhazian „ambassador“ to Russia Igor Akhba, the Tskhinvali Region „ambassador“ Znaur Gassiev and Russian First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Mikhail Babich. The agreements signing is of technical nature. Subsequent to the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs abolition, its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Economic Development. The Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs was responsible for implementing investment programs in the Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia. Following to the structural changes in the Russian government, the Ministry of Economic Development was to sign the agreements.

Russia Financed Roadworks Started in Tskhinvali

Under the Russia financed investment program for 2020-2022, promoting socio-economic development of the Tskhinvali Region, roadworks on Kim Street have started. Under the Russia financed new investment program roadworks are planned on 25 streets, with 8 streets for 2020.

Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture

According to de facto Acting Minister of Agriculture of Abkhazia, Amiran Kakalia, in 2020 Russia will assist Abkhazia in the fight against pests and treatment of crops. Abkhazia will receive 116 million RUB from Russia. 8 million out of which will be spent on the Asian bugs mechanical collection. Abkhazia received similar assistance in previous years as well.

Cooperation in the Social Field

Discussion on Russian Pensions Illegal Receipt in Abkhazia 

De facto Prime Minister of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab and the representative of the Russian Pension Fund in Abkhazia Eliso Gurgulia discussed illegal receipt of Russian pensions. Today, 30,719 Russian citizens permanently residing in Abkhazia are registered in the Russian Pension Fund and receive Russian pensions. According to the Fund, more than 600 people have received pensions illegally. Pensions illegal transfer is also related to the late registration of death. The overpaid amount, which must be returned to the fund, amounts to more than 15 million RUB.

In the Tskhinvali Region, Families with Children will Receive Russian Financial Assistance

During the spread of the new Coronavirus, Russian citizens residing in the Tskhinvali Region, with children under the age of 16, will receive financial assistance from the Russian government. Families with children under the age of three will receive 5,000 RUB monthly, for three months; families with children over the age of three will receive lump-sum of 10,000 RUB. Financial assistance will be provided to the parents and children with Russian citizenship only.

Russian „Soft Power“

In May 2020, representatives of the Federal Agency for CIS States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Affairs in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region were actively involved in the celebrations of the 75th  anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

„I Draw Victory“

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, an artistic-patriotic competition - "I Draw Victory" was organized by the Agency representation in the Tskhinvali Region and "Sputnik Южяя Осетия". Schoolchildren participated in the competition.

„Victory Newspaper“

On May 7-9, Public Organization of the Republican Youth - „United Alanya“, with the support of the Agency, visited all districts of the Tskhinvali Region and congratulated the locals on the 75th  anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, handed out 1000 „Georgievsky ribbons“ and copies of historical release of the newspaper „Pravda“, of May 9, 1945.

Russian „ambassador“ congratulated veterans

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II, Russian „ambassador“ to the Tskhinvali Region Marat Kulakhmetov visited the war veterans. Kulakhmetov congratulated the veterans on behalf of the Russian President. Veterans received jubilee medals from the „embassy“.

Russian „ambassador“ at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier

On May 9, in Sokhumi, Russian „ambassador“ to Abkhazia Aleksey Dvinianin, employees of the „Embassy“ and the Agency representation in Abkhazia paid tribute to the memory of those killed in the Great Patriotic War. A solemn event was held at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Sokhumi.

Online chess tournament

On May 9, the chess tournament organized with the support of the Agency representation in Abkhazia on the occasion of the 75th  anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, ended. More than 30 chess players participated in the online tournament.

Putin’s material support to the war veterans

Certain categories of Russian citizens residing in Abkhazia, the Tskhinvali Region and Transnistria will receive lump-sum on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Respective decree was issued on May 8, 2020, by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Payment will be made in May-June 2020. Certain categories of citizens participating in the Great Patriotic War will receive 75,000 RUB and some - 50,000 RUB.

Education in Russia

• At de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Tskhinvali Region, students  apply for admission to the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. For the Tskhinvali Region 4 places for bachelor degree and 3 places for master degree program are allocated. Application deadline is May 20. At the same time, at de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, students apply for admission to the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
• In 2020, the Russian Ministry of Defense has allocated quotas to 14 higher military educational institutions for entrants from the Tskhinvali Region. In 2019, quotas were allocated to 16 military schools.