On August 1, the President of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, paid a working visit to St. Petersburg where he met with the Governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov. The meeting discussed cooperation in tourism, trade, and youth policy.

Bzhania noted that tourism is the most important sector for the de facto republic’s economy and expressed readiness to cooperate with St. Petersburg. In addition, the parties discussed the visit of a St. Petersburg delegation to the occupied Abkhazia in the fall of 2024. The goal of the visit was to enhance cooperation in sports, education, and culture. „The Republic considers cooperation with St. Petersburg as a strategic partnership“ - Bzhania's website reads.

As part of his visit to St. Petersburg, on August 2, Bzhania took part in a ceremony marking the 94th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian Airborne Forces. He noted that all post-Soviet countries celebrate the holiday because "the airborne troops were the elite of the Armed Forces of our common, big country."

After the ceremony, Bzhania, together with Alexander Gerashchenko, a veteran of the 345th Airborne Regiment, fired a midday salvo from the cannons of the Peter and Paul Fortress.