[LINK] "Abkhaz Opposition Fear Growing Russian Influence"

[rfmcdonald]

This news item probably doesn't surprise many people.

Abkhazians have ceased to worry about renewed war with Georgia since Moscow recognised their independence a year ago, but now opposition politicians fear their government is surrendering hard-won freedoms to Russia.

Russia and Nicaragua are the only countries that consider Abkhazia to be an independent state, following its unilateral declaration of independence from Georgia in 1991, meaning initial hopes that the Black Sea territory’s foreign policy could be “multi-vectoral” - looking towards Russia, Europe and Turkey - have been stillborn.

In the year since the August war between Russia and Georgia, Abkhazian president Sergei Bagapsh has signed deals giving Russia control over the border with Georgia proper, the Abkhazian railway network and airport, as well as rights to search for oil off its coast.

[. . .]

The issue of Russian influence is likely to dominate the December elections, but in reality the government of Abkhazia’s options are highly constrained by its dependence on Russia for trade and access to the outside world.

Half the state’s budget is a gift from Moscow, 95 per cent of trade goes across Abkhazia’s northern border, most inward investment is from Russia, and holidaymakers – who support most of Abkhazia’s economy – are almost all from Russia.

Apart from that, most Abkhazians have Russian passports, and local pensioners receive Russian pensions, which are ten times larger than they would get from Abkhazia.