Publication:  N28 / Review period:  April 2021

Overview of the Kremlin Policy in Abkhazia and the 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.

Visit to Russia

The First “Official” Visit of the “President” of Abkhazia to Russia

On April 20, 2021, the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, paid his first “official” visit to Russia this year. In 2020, Bzhania had seven official visits to Russia. During the visit, Bzhania met with the Director of the Russian State Insurance Company, the Head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, the Head of Rospotrebnadzor and high officials of the Presidential Administration, including the Deputy Head of the Administration, Dmitry Kozak. Kozak is the most influential high-ranking official in the direction of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.

Kristina Ozgan Held Meetings in Moscow

After Bzhania’s visit, the de facto Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Abkhazia, Kristina Ozgan, arrived in Moscow on a working visit. As part of the visit, she met with Sergey Nazarov, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, who oversees the direction of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. The parties discussed issues of cooperation in the implementation of the Russia's investment program, the energy sector, and harmonization and development of investment “legislation.” Ozgan also discussed the issue of the Sokhumi airport restoration and flight resumption during a meeting with a potential investor; however, more details about the meeting are not available at this moment.

De Facto Minister of Justice of Abkhazia Met with His Russian “Counterpart”

In Moscow, the de facto Minister of Justice of Abkhazia, Anri Bartsits, met with his Russian counterpart, Konstantin Chuychenko. The parties discussed issues of cooperation between the agencies and decided to set up a joint working group for the “prompt and effective” implementation of tasks.

Visit of Government Officials

Government Official Supervising the direction of Abkhazia Inspected the Progress of Ongoing Projects

Representatives of the Russian Ministries of Economic Development and Energy paid a two-day working visit to Abkhazia. The Russian delegation was chaired by Sergey Nazarov, who oversees the directions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. This was Nazarov's first visit to Abkhazia in his new role. The goal of the visit was to inspect facilities funded under the Russian investment program. Nazarov visited completed and ongoing projects in the tourist city of Gagra, the Tkvarcheli and the Ochamchire districts. The parties also discussed the issue of synchronization of Abkhazian “legislation” with Russian legislation. The issue is considered a problematic.

Kristina Ozgan hosts Sergey Nazarov. Source: Web-page of the de facto Ministry of Economy of Abkhazia

Russian Delegation Pays a Working Visit to the Tskhinvali Region

Vitaly Gudin, the Director of the Department of Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, visited Tskhinvali. Gudin met with the “President” Anatoly Bibilov. Gudin’s ​​responsibilities include monitoring implementation of the ongoing Russian-funded projects in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.

Military Exercises

Military Exercises at the 7th Military Base in Abkhazia

• Radio-electronic warfare specialists of the  military base destroyed unmanned aerial vehicles of a conventional enemy. As part of the tactical exercise, military personnel discovered reconnaissance and strike drones flying at minimum and medium altitudes over the Black Sea.
• Motorized infantry carried out exercises at the military base. As part of the exercises, military personnel worked out new methods of combat shooting.
• Radio-electronic warfare specialists carried out exercises at the Nagvalou military training ground

Other News from the 7th Military Base

• The heating season ended at the military base. Specialists of the housing and communal services completed technical inspection of heating networks.
• Servicemen of the military base and soldiers of the de facto Ministry of Defense spruced up memorials of the Great Patriotic War.

Military Exercises at the 4th Military Base in the Tskhinvali Region

• Reinforced companies of the military base used unmanned aerial vehicles to destroy a conditional enemy.
• Motorized infantry underwent a control check.

Other News from the 4th Military Base

• Disinfection was carried out at the military base. Over 130 buildings were cleaned with a disinfectant solution.

A detailed review of the activities of the Russian Military forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in April 2021 can be found here.

Cooperation Between Law Enforcement Agencies

The de facto parliament of the Tskhinvali region supported an amendment to the law that envisages expansion of scope of operational-search activities for certain employees of the Joint Information-Coordination Center of the Ministries of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Tskhinvali region. According to the amendment, employees of the analytical department of the Center will be assigned new functions, such as collecting information, identifying and questioning individuals.

“Border” Demarcation

The fifth meeting of the Demarcation Commission of the so-called South Ossetia and Russia was held in Moscow. The parties discussed the progress of the planned work for 2021 and the creation of cartographic materials for the demarcation. As planned, the next meeting of the Commission will be held in the Tskhinvali region.

Cooperation in the Field of Legislation

A speaker of the de facto parliament of Abkhazia, Valery Kvarchia, attended the 34th session of the Council of the Parliamentary Association of southern Russia, which was held in the national military-historical museum complex of the Great Patriotic War, in Rostov-on-Don. Within the legislative framework, the Council envisages the cooperation between administrative units of southern Russia in the social, economic, and cultural fields.

Cooperation in the Field of the Economy

Mineral Water of the Tskhinvali Region Wins Medals in Russia

Representatives of the Tskhinvali region participated in the Prodexpo-2021 international exhibition of food and beverages which was held in Moscow on April 12-16. Over 70 countries participated in the exhibition. The Bagiata Mineral Water Bottling Plant took the first and second places at the Prodexpo-2021 exhibition

Representatives of the Russian Customs Service Visited Abkhazia

Vladimir Ivin, the Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Customs Service, visited Abkhazia. During a meeting with the Abkhaz side, the parties discussed the implementation of a program for the formation of a common social and economic space between Russia and Abkhazia, which aims at harmonizing Abkhazian “legislation” with Russian legislation.

Cooperation in the Field of Healthcare

Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region received the first batch of the Sputnik V Russian vaccine on April 30. Getting a further batch will depend on the success of the first vaccination campaign. Abkhazia received 6,500 doses, while the Tskhinvali region got enough doses for 2,000 people only.

The first batch of the Russian vaccine delivered in Tskhinvali. Source:  cominf.org

Cooperation with Regions of Russia

Sokhumi and Cheboksary Become Sister Cities

Sokhumi and Cheboksary, the capital of the Republic of Chuvashia of the Russian Federation, signed a partnership agreement. The agreement provides for the cooperation in the fields of business, agriculture, mechanical engineering, education, culture, sports, tourism and healthcare.

Abkhazia and Crimea Adopted a Cooperation Plan for the Next Three Years

The third meeting of the Joint Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian cooperation between the de facto Cabinet of Ministers of Abkhazia and the de facto Council of Ministers of Crimea was held in Abkhazia. The parties discussed the implementation of the cooperation program for 2020-2021 and adopted an action plan for 2022-2024.

Russia’s “Soft Power”

Tskhinvali Theatre Signs a Cooperation Agreement with a Russian Educational Institution

The K. Khetagurov “State” Drama Theatre of the Tskhinvali region signed a cooperation agreement with the Moscow Higher School of Performing Arts.

Lessons of Courage Are Being Held in Tskhinvali

The de facto Ministry of Defense of the Tskhinvali region continues to hold the Lessons of Courage for schoolchildren. This time, the Lesson of Courage was conducted for the last grade students of the Tskhinvali N6 public school.

Cosmonautics Day Was Celebrated in Tskhinvali

On April 12, Cosmonautics Day was celebrated in Tskhinvali. A ceremony was held in the Tskhinvali N12 schoolyard, where a bust of the Soviet astronaut, Yuri Gagarin, was unveiled and graffiti on the school wall was presented.