Russia has added two Abkhaz journalists to its list of “foreign agents,” in what local observers have described as a move aimed at cementing Moscow’s control over the Georgian breakaway region.
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia's control in a war in 1993 which followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, during which hundreds of thousands of ethnic Georgians fled the region.
In 2008, separatist forces took part in Russia’s attack on Georgia, driving Tbilisi’s soldiers out of the region, and that year Moscow formally recognized Abkhazia’s independence.
Russia’s Justice Ministry accused Izida Chania, chief editor of Abkhazia's oldest independent outlet, Nuzhnaya Gazeta, and Nizfa Arshba, head of the local news agency Aishara, of “spreading false information about the decisions and policies” made by Moscow.
Earlier this month, Inal Khashig, founder of the independent news outlet Chegemskaya Pravda, was also branded a “foreign agent” by Russia, becoming the first Abkhaz journalist to join the list.
Critics of the “foreign agent” list, introduced in 2012, say it is used to quash dissent and silence voices critical of Kremlin policy.
By adding Abkhaz journalists to the list, the critics also contend, the Kremlin is aiming to strengthen its control over Abkhazia and bolster the position of its newly elected, Moscow-aligned President Badra Gunba.
Olesya Vartanyan, an expert on security and conflicts in the South Caucasus, told Russian independent news outlet The Moscow Times: “Following the November crisis in Abkhazia, Moscow has taken a much tougher stance on Abkhaz politicians, local activists and journalists.”
In November, large protests erupted in Abkhazia, sparked by a controversial investment deal that would have allowed wealthy Russians to purchase property in the region.
Critics argued that the agreement, which also included an eight-year tax and customs duty exemption for Russian investors, was an attempt by Moscow to further solidify its economic control over Abkhazia.
The protests led to the resignation of Moscow-backed President Aslan Bzhania. This was the third time since 2014 that an Abkhazian leader had been ousted by mass protests.
However, in the presidential election that followed Bzhania’s resignation, Gunba, another Kremlin-backed candidate who had been serving as the region’s acting leader, emerged victorious in the run-off vote held earlier this month.
In 2008, separatist forces took part in Russia’s attack on Georgia, driving Tbilisi’s soldiers out of the region, and that year Moscow formally recognized Abkhazia’s independence.
Russia’s Justice Ministry accused Izida Chania, chief editor of Abkhazia's oldest independent outlet, Nuzhnaya Gazeta, and Nizfa Arshba, head of the local news agency Aishara, of “spreading false information about the decisions and policies” made by Moscow.
Earlier this month, Inal Khashig, founder of the independent news outlet Chegemskaya Pravda, was also branded a “foreign agent” by Russia, becoming the first Abkhaz journalist to join the list.
Critics of the “foreign agent” list, introduced in 2012, say it is used to quash dissent and silence voices critical of Kremlin policy.
By adding Abkhaz journalists to the list, the critics also contend, the Kremlin is aiming to strengthen its control over Abkhazia and bolster the position of its newly elected, Moscow-aligned President Badra Gunba.
Olesya Vartanyan, an expert on security and conflicts in the South Caucasus, told Russian independent news outlet The Moscow Times: “Following the November crisis in Abkhazia, Moscow has taken a much tougher stance on Abkhaz politicians, local activists and journalists.”
In November, large protests erupted in Abkhazia, sparked by a controversial investment deal that would have allowed wealthy Russians to purchase property in the region.
Critics argued that the agreement, which also included an eight-year tax and customs duty exemption for Russian investors, was an attempt by Moscow to further solidify its economic control over Abkhazia.
The protests led to the resignation of Moscow-backed President Aslan Bzhania. This was the third time since 2014 that an Abkhazian leader had been ousted by mass protests.
However, in the presidential election that followed Bzhania’s resignation, Gunba, another Kremlin-backed candidate who had been serving as the region’s acting leader, emerged victorious in the run-off vote held earlier this month.
‘Outsourcing of repressions’
Critics suggest that the list of potential “foreign agents” could have been provided by Gunba’s administration, which has cracked down on dissent.
Prominent Abkhaz lawyer Said Gezerdava described the move as an “outsourcing of repressions,” warning: “We are returning to the black pages of Abkhazian history, when, in the name of power, money and other things, some fellow citizens commit treason against others.
“Once we get used to these repressions…more severe ones will follow.”
Georgia regards the region, as well as another breakaway region, South Ossetia, as territories occupied by Russia.
The vast majority of countries say that Abkhazia is legally part of Georgia.
