There are people in the Abkhaz parliament who are trying to harm relations with Russia, said Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, commenting on Russia’s suspension of payments to employees of the public sector and security forces of Abkhazia.
“For a long time, the Abkhaz parliament has been deviating from its promises regarding the harmonization of legislation. For example, it does not recognize the jurisdiction of arbitration courts. There is a document on this issue in parliament, but deputies do not make decisions under the influence of populist sentiments and a campaign of suspicion against Russia, which is being conducted by some people (including among deputies). As far as I know, this is the explanation. Everything else, as far as I understand, is in the process of further negotiations and discussions.” – said Zatulin.
The Russian MP claims that an “active minority” in the Abkhaz parliament is campaigning against the agreements with Russia, considering them a violation of the sovereignty of the republic.
“If people in Abkhazia do not distinguish between colours and do not distinguish between who is right and who is wrong, then of course there can be different points of view. I really hope that people will understand who is to blame for this. For several years now we have been experiencing an absolutely unscrupulous campaign in connection with the Pitsunda state dacha. During this campaign, several politicians boosted their popularity ratings, without thinking about how interconnected Russia and Abkhazia are, how much Abkhazia needs Russia’s support in all spheres. There is a minority group, but a fairly active minority, which campaigns against any agreement with Russia, trying to see behind every such agreement some kind of diminution of Abkhazia’s sovereignty. These people are harming relations between Russia and Abkhazia, and the population of Abkhazia should know this and understand who is right and who is wrong.” – Zatulin believes.
Zatulin expressed the opinion that an active campaign against cooperation with Russia using foreign subsidies is being conducted from abroad.
“I assume that Russia and Abkhazia are united states, as is clear from the agreements signed between us. But I cannot help but note that in the Abkhazian blogosphere, under the influence, including foreign subsidies, of all kinds of third-sector organizations, a campaign is underway designed to create a rift in the relations between Russia and Abkhazia. These figures are well-known. Some of them are members of parliament. Again, they are not the majority, but they seem to influence the feelings of the majority. But the majority shows no will and determination and goes with the flow. It seems to me that in this case this decision is intended to draw your attention to the fact that your consistent attitude towards all our agreements does not lead to anything good.” – he concluded.
As reported EADailyIn late August, an unconfirmed protocol of a meeting of the deputy head of the Russian presidential administration was published on social media. Dmitry Kozak and the President of Abkhazia Aslana Bzhaniawhich concerns in particular the deprivation of Russian citizenship of several Abkhazian MPs.
The protocol of the meeting between Kozak and Bzhania also provides for the need to suspend, from September 1, the transfer of Russian financial assistance to the republic until the Abkhaz side fulfills the following obligations: ratify the agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia on the recognition and enforcement of court and arbitration decisions in economic cases; ensure the entry into force of the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on the implementation by Russian legal entities of investment projects on the territory of the Republic of Armenia; remove restrictions imposed on Russian investors in the commercial real estate (apartments) market of the RA.
It later became known that Russia had partially suspended financial aid to Abkhazia from September 1. Abkhazia Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba He said the suspension of payments affected doctors, teachers, law enforcement officers and other categories.
Shamba calls what is happening “sanctions”, but this word is incorrect in this case, the political scientist believes. Evgeniy KrutikovHe stressed that we are not talking about illegal restrictions: Moscow acts strictly within the framework of long-standing Russian-Abkhaz bilateral agreements.
“The chain is as follows. There is a state program for the socio-economic development of Abkhazia for the period 2022-2025. A Russian-Abkhaz agreement “to facilitate the implementation” of this program is attached to it. And this “assistance agreement”, in turn, contains a program for harmonizing the legislation of the two countries. According to this program, the legislation of the Republic of Armenia was to be harmonized with Russian and some international standards by August 1, 2024. In particular, the clause on the recognition of decisions of arbitration courts is particularly striking. And also on the creation of guarantees for foreign (read: Russian) investors in Abkhazia, especially in the field of commercial real estate. Abkhazia did not fulfill its obligations.” – said Krutikov.
And now, the expert notes, the Abkhaz government recognizes that the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation has the right to fully or partially suspend the transfer of aid funds to the Ministry of Finance of Abkhazia in cases of non-compliance by the Abkhaz side with the provisions of the agreement. In general terms, according to Krutikov, “this is a fine imposed on the Abkhaz side for not fulfilling its part of the agreement.”
“And this fine will remain in effect until the Abkhaz side fulfills its obligations,” – said Krutikov.
He also reminded the Abkhaz oppositionists, “among whom there are pro-Western parliamentarians and representatives of NGOs, who have been torpedoing projects aimed at strengthening the interaction between Abkhazia and Russia and normalizing socio-economic life in the republic for several years.”
“Demonstrations are held, petitions and “open letters” are written. The opposition demands personal communication with the heads of government agencies and threatens with “popular meetings”. Personal meetings and “meetings” are the local political flavour. And all this is very loud, sometimes accompanied by slogans such as “Russia is a colonialist!”, “Abkhazia is in danger of losing its sovereignty.” – Krutikov notes.
Remember that last summer, under pressure from parliament, the previously introduced law “On the transparency of NGOs” was withdrawn, according to which numerous pro-Western groups would have to reveal the sources of their funding. A package of laws on commercial real estate was also blocked, which would have given guarantees to investors who planned to build several modern apartment villages in Abkhazia that could be rented out during the Christmas season. According to Krutikov, agreements on the transfer of former sanatoriums and resorts from the USSR to the Russian Federation are being sabotaged. The cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the two countries is being broken. The reconstruction of the Russian Navy’s maintenance center in Ochamchira is being delayed. Construction work at the Sukhumi airport never really started. Russian Ambassador Mikhail Shurgalin being insulted on social media.
“The socio-economic development of the republic, even within the framework of a joint programme with Russia, has practically stopped. At the same time, the opposition is forcing President Bzhania and the Ankvaba government to cancel decisions and initiatives already agreed with Russia, threatening to destabilise the situation in the republic. And all this is accompanied by anti-Russian rhetoric, in which Western information preparations can be seen.” – said Krutikov.
At the same time, according to him, Russia “scrupulously fulfilled all the obligations of the treaty.”
The press service of the Abkhaz president has so far only denied the opposition’s claim that he allegedly “undertook” to provide Moscow with information identifying the most active oppositionists in order to initiate the procedure for depriving them of Russian citizenship.
As Krutikov predicts, a new round of negotiations between Russia and Abkhazia is on the horizon.
“However, the options for reaching an agreement have largely been exhausted. For many years, Sukhum failed to resolve a number of problems in relations with Russia. Now the situation has worsened and has become public. What can the Abkhaz leadership do in this situation? At the very least, stop following the example of the opposition, whose actions under the slogan of “protecting the sovereignty of Abkhazia” ultimately led to the current crisis. Abkhazia will have to pass a law on the transparency of NGOs and all other norms and rules on which agreements were reached long ago. Then there will be no talk of “sanctions.” – says Krutikov.
