Sokhumi, Tskhinvali, Moscow Digest – March 14-19, 2026

2026-03-20 - 13:02

Below is the weekly digest of key developments and discourses in and around the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, as well as those concerning Tbilisi–Moscow relations. Sokhumi Opposition Leader Kan Kvarchia Faces Imprisonment Risk After several delays, the de facto Supreme Court of Abkhazia has finally ruled that opposition MP Kan Kvarchia’s actions contain elements of a crime under the charge of “threat of murder”, thus paving the way for further criminal prosecution. The next step is for the “court” to send the case to the de facto Parliament to consider lifting Kvarchia’s “parliamentary immunity”. If approved, prosecutors can formally open a criminal case against him. The ruling follows an incident on November 5, 2025, when Kvarchia, together with other opposition leaders and activists, stormed the office of Russian political consultants operating in Abkhazia ahead of local “elections.” They face allegations of assaulting Russian citizens and seizing their personal belongings, including money and computers. Abkhaz Residents with Russian Citizenship to Get Free Medical Care in Russia Russia’s Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko and the de facto Minister of Health of Abkhazia Eduard Butba have signed an agreement enabling residents of the region with Russian citizenship to receive free medical care in Russia under the Compulsory Medical Insurance (CMI) system. In addition, a separate protocol was signed to simplify access to Russian medical institutions. Previously, residents of Abkhazia holding Russian citizenship had to present an internal Russian passport as proof of identity, which they do not possess. The newly signed protocol expands the list of documents for verification when seeking treatment in Russia. According to local statistics, more than 70% of Abkhazia’s population holds Russian citizenship, meaning they will all be eligible for free medical treatment in Russia. Sokhumi’s Paid Medical Treatment for ‘Foreigners’ Expected to Affect Gali Residents Representative of the de facto Health Ministry, Batal Katsia, spoke about the initiative of introducing paid medical treatment for “foreigners” in an interview with Sputnik Abkhazia. The planned changes are expected to primarily affect residents of the Gali district, the majority of whom do not hold the so-called “Abkhaz passport” and are therefore classified as “foreigners”. Katsia noted that although existing regulations already provide for paid medical services for “foreign citizens”, in practice, treatment has largely remained free due to the absence of formally defined tariffs and procedures. According to him, the de facto Ministry of Health has now developed a document regulating tariffs. Once the so-called government approves it, an official order introducing paid medical services will be issued. Free medical care will be provided only in cases requiring emergency assistance. Russia Arrests Two Abkhaz ‘Nationals’ in Separate Cases Timur Agrba, a resident of occupied Abkhazia, has been sentenced in Russia to 5.5 years in a general-regime penal colony for publishing materials on a Telegram channel that the Russian court deemed to glorify the terrorist Shamil Basaev. Agrba was the administrator of the opposition Telegram channel “Аҧсны Аҳәынҭқарра”. Another Abkhaz “national,” Irakli Bzhinava, chairman of the Abkhaz diaspora in Rostov-on-Don, is also facing legal proceedings. On February 5, Russian security forces arrested him for two months. He is accused of publicly calling for actions against Russia’s security, stemming from his previous criticism of the transfer of the Bichvinta dacha to Vladimir Putin. Now he faces 3 to 6 years in prison. The public in Abkhazia has demanded that the de facto authorities respond. Badra Gunba, Abkhazia’s de facto president, said he is keeping the situation “under personal control”. Gunba to Request Russia Resume Issuing Internal Passports in Abkhazia De facto Abkhaz leader Badra Gunba plans to request that Russia resume issuing internal passports in Abkhazia, citing the need to make life easier for Abkhaz residents, many of whom also hold Russian citizenship. “Russian internal passports will not be used within Abkhazia. However, since a large number of our citizens also hold Russian nationality, this document will assist them while in Russia,” Gunba said. He added that a Russian internal passport is essential for accessing certain government services in Russia, particularly in healthcare. Russian authorities started issuing Russian internal passports in Abkhazia following a request from Badra Gunba during his candidacy for the so-called “presidency”. Previously, Abkhaz residents had to travel to Russia and go through a lengthy bureaucratic process to obtain these documents. However, the issuance of passports was later halted after opposition leader and de facto MP Kan Kvarchia publicly questioned the legitimacy of the practice. Gunba also commented on Russia’s sanctions against Abkhaz residents, stating that the de facto authorities are working with their Russian counterparts to lift restrictions on those affected. Following protests against Russian economic initiatives in Abkhazia in November 2024, opposition leaders Kan Kvarchia and Levan Mikaa were stripped of their Russian citizenship, while three journalists – Inal Khashig, Izida Tchania, and Nizfa Arshba – were designated as “foreign agents”. It was also reported that dozens of Abkhaz residents faced entry bans to Russia. De Facto Foreign Minister Declares “Non-Negotiable Reality” After 66th Geneva Talks Following the 66th round of the Geneva International Discussions, the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Oleg Bartsyts, stated that the Abkhaz side had reiterated a position which, according to Sokhumi, is not subject to revision. “We stated the new realities that our neighbor – Georgia – must accept, whether they want to or not. Two sovereign states have appeared on the political map of the world — the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia. This is not a matter for bargaining or discussion, but an accomplished fact,” Bartsyts said. He also added that “there is no alternative to a peaceful settlement of this issue, and the current status quo in the region must be taken into account by all participants in the negotiation process”. Abkhaz and South Ossetian de facto representatives continued to insist on the conclusion of a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force, including mechanisms that would reflect their claimed “status” and provide security guarantees. Reconstruction Kicks Off at Russian-Abkhaz “Border” Checkpoint The reconstruction works of the Russian-Abkhaz “border” checkpoint have commenced, aiming at addressing the traditional traffic surge at the Adler checkpoint, particularly during the summer months. Daily traffic usually peaks at over 12,000 vehicles and 70,000 people in both directions, with more than 12 million people and 2.7 million vehicles crossing in 2025. Once completed, the checkpoint will handle up to 14,000 vehicles and 80,500 people daily – 9.5 and 2.5 times the current capacity. Redesigned control lines and a new traffic management system will allow up to 100 vehicles to be processed simultaneously. Tskhinvali “De-occupation” as a Universal Argument: A Tskhinvali Newspaper’s Perspective An article in the Tskhinvali newspaper South Ossetia, published on March 14, discusses the “reset” of relations between the Georgian authorities and the U.S. In this context, the author asserts that Georgian politicians are resorting to a “well-worn repertoire.” The article notes that rhetoric regarding “occupation” and “restoration of territorial integrity” has intensified once again in Georgian politics. Such statements, according to the author, are being used “as a universal argument for a Western audience and, at the same time, as a means of attracting nationalist circles within the country.” As mentioned in the article, the visit of the OSCE PA delegation to Georgia was revealing: the delegation was traditionally shown the border with “South Ossetia” and informed of the “consequences of the occupation,” but in its final statement, the delegation focused more on Georgia’s internal political polarization. The article states that active diplomatic efforts are also continuing in the U.S., where Georgian politicians are discussing the prospects for restoring a strategic partnership following the cooling of relations during the Biden administration. “Since Donald Trump took office, the Georgian leadership has been actively seeking a sort of ‘reset’ in relations and the conclusion of a new strategic partnership agreement. Tbilisi hopes that the White House will view the South Caucasus region not only in a political but also in an economic context, primarily through the lens of transit and infrastructure projects, the implementation of which is impossible without taking the Georgian factor into account. In this context, rhetoric about “occupied territories” is used as one of the arguments in the dialogue with Western partners. It is intended to emphasize Georgia’s significance as a state on the “front line of confrontation” with Russia,” the newspaper notes. At the same time, the author believes that Georgia’s leadership is repeating the rhetoric about “peaceful coexistence” with the Abkhaz and Ossetians, while also making accusations against Russia. “As long as the themes of ‘de-occupation’ and ‘restoration of territorial integrity’ continue to serve as universal political slogans, any talk of a fundamental transformation of Georgian policy remains more superficial rhetoric than a reflection of real change,” the article states. Gagloev Congratulates Aksyonov on the “Day of Crimea’s Reunification with Russia” Alan Gagloev, the leader of the occupied Tskhinvali region, congratulated Sergey Aksyonov, the head of the Crimean occupation administration, on the “Day of Crimea’s Reunification with Russia,” describing the date as a symbol of historical justice. He noted the development of Crimea and the strengthening of cooperation with the Tskhinvali region, and expressed hope for further collaboration. Tskhinvali “Prosecutor’s Office” on Plans to Combat Juvenile Crime and Recidivism At the final meeting reviewing law enforcement agencies’ performance in 2025, Grigory Sobaev, the “Prosecutor General” of the occupied Tskhinvali region, outlined priorities for 2026, emphasizing the protection of youth and monitoring of troubled families. He stressed the importance of strengthening moral values, preventing juvenile crime, and countering destructive online communities. Sobaev proposed expanding educational programs in schools and intensifying outreach efforts regarding legal responsibility. He also drew attention to the high recidivism rate, calling for tighter administrative supervision of individuals with prior convictions and those on probation. Tskhinvali Authorities Announce Salary Increases and Expanded Social Benefits for the “Ministry of Internal Affairs” Erislav Mamiev, the “Minister of Internal Affairs” of the occupied Tskhinvali region, has announced a gradual increase in the salaries of “Ministry of Internal Affairs” employees, as part of a roadmap agreed with Russia. The increase is scheduled to take place over three years: in 2026, salaries will rise to 50,000 rubles (about $600), in 2027—to 53,000 (about $635), and in 2028—to 56,930 rubles (about $710). Mamiev noted that these changes had been made possible thanks to work on a protocol of agreement between the occupied region and the Russian Federation. The document provides for salary indexation, expanded social guarantees, and the procurement of equipment for the “Ministry of Internal Affairs.” Russia-Georgia Amid the Lost Routes through the Persian Gulf, Georgia’s Role in the Transit of Russians is Growing The closure of Gulf countries due to the war in the Middle East has significantly reduced transit options for Russians, but Georgia remains one of the few available destinations for international connections, Interfax news agency reports, citing the Association of Tour Operators of Russia. The report notes that, despite the loss of up to a third of routes, Georgian cities are among the 15 countries to which direct flights from Russia continue and which provide transit departures. Amid these restrictions, Georgia’s role as an alternative hub is growing, as part of the passenger traffic is being redirected from closed Middle Eastern destinations to the routes that remain open. Moscow Expects the Georgian Authorities to Take Practical Steps toward Restoring Relations between the Countries Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing that an increasing number of Georgian politicians are advocating for the restoration of relations with Moscow. “These relations suffered a colossal blow from those who manipulated the situation in the Caucasus – both in the South Caucasus as a whole and in the North Caucasus of the Russian Federation – those who manipulated