Author: Giorgi Beroshvili

On February 24, 2022, the Russian-Ukrainian war started with the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Many separatists from Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region are fighting in the war. This is partly due to the desire of the separatist regimes to express their support for both Russia and the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and, in turn, is encouraged by Russia to emphasize the importance of the “international brotherhood” in the war in Ukraine. The Russian media sources often cover the participation of “foreign” (e.g., Abkhaz or Ossetian) volunteers and their role in the 2022 war.

Immediately after the start of the hostilities in Ukraine, separatists from the occupied territories of Georgia appeared (e.g. the so-called South Ossetian flag on a tank in Melitopol) in hotspots. Abkhaz and Ossetian volunteers have been fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014, however, their number has increased since the escalation of the 2022 war. Among them is an ethnic Abkhaz military, Akhra Avidzba, who has been actively involved in the conflict since 2014.

Who is Akhra Avidzba?

Akhra Avidzba was born in 1986 in Sochi. Avidzba holds Russian citizenship and moved to Abkhazia only in 2011. He is the cousin of Alkhaz Avidzba, an Abkhaz thief-in-law, who was killed in a restaurant in Sokhumi in 2019. Avidzba, nicknamed as “Abkhaz” (also using the pseudonym “Gennady Viktorovich”), has played an important role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict since 2014. He appeared on the territory of Ukraine in July of the same year. Avidzba said that he wanted to help “his brother nation to defend its homeland” and that is why he decided to go to eastern Ukraine.

Avidzba initially joined the Oplot military group, led by Alexander Zakharchenko (head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic in 2014-2018). Zakharchenko was assassinated in Donetsk in 2018 like other separatist leaders fighting together with Avidzba. In a 2021 interview, Avidzba recalls “what a positive impact had Zakharchenko on him and on the events in Donbass.”

Later, Avidzba headed the Piatnashka separatist “international” brigade. The brigade took part in the battles of Ilovaisk, Shakhtarsk and Debaltseve. Avidzba received the title of “Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic” for his participation in these battles in 2015. However, Avidzba's role was actively covered by the Russian media to give the conflict an “international” tone. According to Avidzba, Piatnashka initially performed special tasks, but due to their growing military experience, other units soon began to join it. In the same interview, Avidzba recalls that French, British, Belarusian and Kazakh volunteers fought in his unit. Avidzba says that “despite speaking different languages, [foreign] volunteers understand the language of dignity, which determines their desire to fight in Donbass.” Avidzba says that the French volunteers did not face a problem after returning home, unlike the British and Kazakhs, most of whom were detained. French volunteers are “involved in spreading information about Donbass.” Avidzba returned to Abkhazia in 2018.

So-Called Yellow Vests Under the Flag of the Donetsk People's Republic. Source: realtribune.ru

It should be noted that Avidzba “managed” to leave Donbass in time, as some separatist leaders fighting with him died in suspicious circumstances after the end of the active phase of the conflict. Although both the separatists and the Russians blame the Ukrainian Special Services for their deaths, it is widely believed that they were killed at Russia's behest in order to oust the overly popular and “unpredictable” leaders of the conflict. Avidzba was particularly popular in the Russian media, thus emphasizing “brotherhood and unity” between the Russian-sponsored separatist territories.

Avidzba in Abkhazia: the 2020 Crisis, Internal Confrontation, and the Return to Donbass

After returning to Abkhazia, Avidzba became actively involved in domestic politics. In January 2020, he participated in the ongoing political crisis in Abkhazia. He, together with several hundred people, broke into the so-called Presidential Palace. His actions and subsequent developments led to the resignation of the de facto President, Raul Khajimba. In June 2020 Avidzba was appointed as the Assistant in international affairs to the current de facto President, Aslan Bzhania, although his position was rather symbolic. This is what led to the disagreement between Avidzba and the Abkhaz de facto leaders. He resigned in October of the same year due to “disappointment in the leadership of Abkhazia.”

At the same time, Avidzba faced a problem at a border checkpoint while entering Abkhazia from Russia. Avidzba was not allowed to leave Russia (video). After the incident, Avidzba said he would definitely return to politics. Avidzba is a military who turned into a politician and poses a big problem to the de facto leaders of Abkhazia. During the 2020 crisis, Avidzba proved that he can mobilize people and has military experience as well.

Shortly afterwards, in March 2021, Avidzba was arrested for illegal possession of firearms, for which, if convicted he would face a sentence of two to six years. Along with him were detained four people who were also fighting in Ukraine. Initially, they were accused of plotting a coup, but as Avidzba's lawyer said it would be difficult to prove, so the trial was held only for illegal possession of firearms. It is noteworthy that Avidzba did not hide the possession of weapons and said that “his enemies are walking with more arms.” Following Avidzba's arrest, militants from Donbass appealed to the de facto government of Abkhazia, demanding a fair investigation and the release of the detainees. Eventually, the Gulripshi District Court sentenced Avidzba to three years probation and imposed a RUB 10,000 fine. The weapons found in his house, in the village of Eshera, was handed over to the “Ministry of Defense” of Abkhazia.

In February 2022, Avidzba appeared in an interview with a Russian media agency in which he “supports the denazification of Ukraine.” Video footage was soon released showing Avidzba again heading to Donbass to fight on the Russian side. During the war, Avidzba recorded another interview in which he again openly supported Russia in the ongoing war. When asked about the assessment of the war, Avidzba said: “Russia is our ally, we must stand together. There is no difference between Abkhazians, Ossetians or Armenians - we are all from the post-Soviet space. We speak Russian, we think Russian. We must fight the evil together.” Avidzba believes that the Russian “special operation is successful and the military are moving forward.” In the interview, he also says that [they] could not give up Ukraine: “Ukraine can not be divided, it must belong entirely to Russia.” At the end of the interview, Avidzba believes that the most difficult process will be the “post-denazification period, when Russian intellectuals will begin to uproot nationalist ideology.”

Akhra Avidzba During the Political Crisis in Sokhumi in 2020. Source: hromadske.ua

Avidzba's Role in Abkhazia's Domestic Politics

It is widely believed that Avidzba's involvement in the 2020 crisis was motivated by the assassination of his cousin, Alkhaz Avidzba, which sparked a desire for revenge and prompted him to enter politics. In March 2021, on the day of his arrest, Avidzba announced on his Facebook page the establishment of the New People Political Party. His arrest can also be linked to the Abkhazia leadership preventing him from entering domestic politics. It seems that the de facto leaders of Abkhazia disliked the political activism of a popular field commander who did much to bring the current de facto president to power.

It is difficult to say how successful Avidzba would have been in politics. Above all, he is a military man who has just entered politics and can have a substantial influence on the developments in Abkhazia.

Before his arrest, Avidzba was protesting against Benur Kviraia's visit to Tbilisi, which sheds light on his position on negotiations with Tbilisi. However, at the same time, it is interesting to see how he will win the hearts of pro-independence Abkhazians, as he often mentions Russia's important role, “Russkiy Mir” and the Russian sphere of influence.

Most importantly, Avidzba was still serving a suspended sentence during the start of the war. His appearance in Donbass may mean that the Abkhaz side prefers to distance him from domestic politics, and therefore Avidzba did not face problems leaving the de facto state. In addition, it is important for the Russian side to prepare propaganda stories and actively use the “Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic” for this purpose since Avidzba is considered a “recognizable face” in this regard. As it is noted, Avidzba has not shown much in real battles, but the widespread coverage of his involvement in the conflict gives him a large platform of influence in both Ukraine and Abkhazia. Avidzba is actively featured in the Russian propaganda media and he often gives interviews. This could become a contributing factor to Avidzba's return to Abkhazian politics.