FOREIGN Ministry and The Security Council of Abkhazia is urged to overcome confrontation with Russia

Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba called for improving relations with Russia, with which, according to him, "confrontation" is taking place now. On September 3, Shamba held a briefing for journalists on the topic of unconfirmed materials published in the information space from the meeting of the Deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Russia Dmitry Kozak and the President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania.

The protocol from the meeting of Kozak and Bzhania states the need to suspend the transfer of Russian financial assistance to the Republic from September 1 until the Abkhaz side fulfills the following obligations: to ratify the agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia on the recognition and enforcement of court and arbitration decisions in economic matters; to ensure the entry into force of the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on the implementation of by Russian legal entities of investment projects in the territory of to remove restrictions from Russian investors in the commercial real estate market of the Republic of Armenia (apartments).

Answering a question from journalists about whether the document is genuine, Sergei Shamba said:

"We have not received anything through our channels. A document that has not come officially, we cannot identify it as genuine."

He also noted that the issues raised there were repeatedly voiced at various meetings.

"These are all the questions that were there. It was said that our failure to fulfill our obligations may entail certain sanctions, they have already begun to be implemented since September 1. Social financing will be stopped, which concerns doctors, teachers, law enforcement agencies and so on," Shamba said.

Speaking about the paragraph of the protocol on the possibility of depriving some members of parliament and representatives of opposition political forces of the Republic of Russian citizenship, Shamba said that deprivation of citizenship is the prerogative of the Russian side.

Shamba also noted that the society and representatives of the opposition forces are concerned about the issue of possible deprivation of citizenship, while they are not concerned about the issues of sanctions that have already followed.

"That's what we have to talk about and worry about. What will this situation lead us to, how to get out of it, and what kind of situation will develop in Abkhazia if such a confrontation continues? I think that our society should be concerned about these issues in the first place," the Foreign Minister said.

He noted that "a lot of discontent among our allies has accumulated recently."

"The relationship has changed significantly. This is not what it was in the beginning. I remember when I was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, when there was recognition of Abkhazia and what attitude there was in Russian society. This is not the case today. We all tried to make this happen. Let's all try to fix the situation together," Shamba said.

The Secretary of the Security Council of Abkhazia, Raul Lolua, in turn, noted at a briefing that there is concern about the reduction of funding for law enforcement agencies from Russia. Many security agreements have been signed between the countries, and the funds that went to the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service were substantial, the head of the Security Council of Abkhazia stated.

"The Russian side prescribed in all documents that in case of non-fulfillment (by Abkhazia) of its obligations, it suspends financial assistance in one direction or another," he said.

Lolua added that the reduction affected the salaries of teachers and doctors. In addition, Abkhazia will have to pay for the flow of electricity from the budget at commercial rates.

All the obligations that Russia has assumed have been fulfilled, Lolua said. The Russian Federation acts as a guarantor of the republic's security, and relations with it need to be strengthened, he said.

"Our task is to ensure maximum interaction with With the Armed Forces, with the Security Council (of Russia), so that they can see that we are reliable partners, and we We are fulfilling our agreements," stressed the head of the Security Council of Abkhazia.

EADaily reported that Russia has suspended payments for teachers, doctors and law enforcement agencies since September 1. In addition, electricity to Abkhazia during the shortage will be supplied at a commercial cost. The authorities of the republic stated that they would fulfill their obligations on salaries to state employees by reducing other items.