More than 100 bilateral documents at various levels have been concluded between Russia and Abkhazia.
The fifth president of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania, who took office on Thursday, called strengthening and development of cooperation with Russia a priority of Abkhazian foreign policy.
Russia was the first to recognize Abkhazia on August 26th 2008 and establish diplomatic relations with it.
“Strengthening and development of comprehensive cooperation with our main ally and strategic partner – the Russian Federation – has been and remains a priority of Abkhazian foreign policy. In accordance with the agreements, we will work more intensively with brotherly Russia on all aspects of bilateral, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation” – said Bzhania, speaking at the inauguration ceremony.
“As Russian Ambassador to the Republic Alexei Dvinyanin noted at the ceremony, Russia will continue to support Abkhazia. “I want to assure all those present, and first of all the President-elect, that the Russian Federation will continue to provide friendly Abkhazia with every possible assistance, be it in the most important for the security of your republic in the sphere of military and political cooperation, as well as in the fight against crime, including organized crime, be it in the sphere of socio-economic and financial assistance to all citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia without exception, or, as Aslan Bzhania quite rightly noted, in the joint fight against the coronavirus infection that hit the whole world”, – said the Ambassador. Dvinyanin congratulated the elected president of Abkhazia on behalf of the Russian leadership.
Bzhania won the election of the president of Abkhazia on March 22, receiving 56.5% of the vote. For the first time the inauguration is held without foreign guests, in a narrow composition, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 100 bilateral documents at various levels have been concluded between Russia and Abkhazia, including the fundamental Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance of 17 September 2008 and the Treaty of Alliance and Strategic Partnership of 24 November 2014. A Russian investment programme to promote the socio-economic development of Abkhazia is also being implemented. Since 2008, Russia has provided assistance in the amount of more than 40 billion rubles and the programme for 2020-2022 envisages financing of 4.5 billion rubles.