Abkhazia’s foreign agent law

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Abkhazia

Russia cuts financial support to Abkhazia in ‘serious blow’ to relations

by OC Media

•3 min read

Abkhazia’s Foreign Minister has confirmed that Russia has cut financial support to Abkhazia for failing to enact pro-Russian reforms. Sergei Shamba told reporters on Tuesday that Russia had suspended the Socio-Economic Development Programme for Abkhazia two days earlier, on Sunday. Russian financial aid makes up a large proportion of Abkhazia’s government budget. The move comes amidst a growing rift between Abkhazia and Russia, with widespread public backlash over a number of measures push

Sukhumi. Photo: Dominik K Cagara/OC Media.

Abkhazia

Abkhazia unfreezes assets of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes

by OC Media

•2 min read

Abkhazia’s tax service has unblocked the bank accounts of five employees at the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes (CHP) following a recent court decision. The authorities have yet to unfreeze the accounts of a sixth employee, which he has described as political pressure against the organisation. CHP, a charitable organisation that provides legal and material assistance to people in Abkhazia, applied to the Arbitration Court following the blocking of their account in April 2024 on suspicion of

From left to right: Inal Khashig, Akhra Bzhania, and Lasha Zukhba. Photos via Facebook and RFE/RL.

Abkhazia

Abkhazian opposition figures express support for Georgia’s foreign agent law protesters

by OC Media

•3 min read

Georgia’s foreign agent law has stirred anxiety in Abkhazia, where opposition figures fear that the draft law signals a pro-Russian policy shift that could lead to Russia abandoning Abkhazia. Since protests against the reintroduction of the draft foreign agent law began in Georgia in April, several opposition figures in Abkhazia have expressed support for protesters in Georgia, saying that the adoption of the law in Georgia could directly affect Abkhazia. On Monday, in a Facebook post critic

Abkhazia

Abkhazian Foreign Minister fired and ‘summoned for questioning’

by OC Media

•2 min read

Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhaniya has fired foreign minister Inal Ardzinba, with Ardzinba reported to have been summoned for questioning by the State Security Service. Bzhaniya issued a decree dismissing Ardzinba on Tuesday, stating that Deputy Foreign Minister Irakli Tuzhba would head the ministry in the interim. Bzhaniya’s website did not reveal the reasons behind Ardzinba’s sacking. Shortly after his dismissal, local Telegram channel Apsny Portal cited sources as saying that Ardzinba had

Abkhazia

Abkhazia freezes assets of non-profit organisation citing tax evasion

by OC Media

•3 min read

Abkhazia’s tax service has frozen the bank accounts of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes (CHP) on grounds that members of the organisation have deemed unjustified and illegal. Abkhazia’s tax service blocked CHP’s bank accounts on 15 April on suspicion of tax evasion, two weeks after an official tax inspection found no violations by the organisation. CHP is a charitable organisation that provides legal and material assistance to people in Abkhazia. Lyudmila Achba, a lawyer from the cen

Abkhazia

Abkhazia proposes ‘foreign agent’ law

by OC Media

•3 min read

Abkhazia’s president has tabled a bill that would brand individuals and organisations that receive money from abroad ‘foreign agents’, applying restrictions on their activities. President Aslan Bzhaniya submitted the draft law to parliament on Tuesday night, despite longstanding public opposition in Abkhazia to its introduction, prompting fierce condemnation from individuals and public organisations. The bill is one of 46 that are set to be voted on in Abkhazia’s parliament as part of a lo

Abkhazia

Abkhazia announces plans to combat ‘anti-Russian sentiment’

by OC Media

•3 min read

The government in Abkhazia has announced plans to combat ‘anti-Russian sentiments’, raising fears of a crackdown on free speech. At a meeting on Monday, Foreign Minister Inal Ardzinba and State Security Service head Robert Kiut discussed what they said were deliberate attempts by ‘external hostile forces’ to provoke anti-Russian sentiments in Abkhazia. A subsequent press briefing from the Interior Ministry described this as a ‘direct threat to [Abkhazia’s] statehood’. Kiut announced that