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
- Georgian Citizen Detained on Suspicion of Spying for Tbilisi
The de facto authorities of occupied Abkhazia reported the detention of Emzar Bagishvili, a Georgian citizen with an “Abkhaz residence permit,” on suspicion of spying for Tbilisi. According to the region’s de facto security service, Bagishvili, born in 1968, was detained on March 10 in the village of Okumi in the Tkvarcheli district. Bagishvili was “engaged in collecting and transmitting information to an employee of Georgia’s special services about the socio-political situation in the Republic, as well as about the routes of movement of military equipment and transport,” Abkhazia’s de facto security service said. A case was opened against him on charges of espionage. Read more.
- “Supreme Court” Postpones Kvarchia Hearing
The so-called Supreme Court of Abkhazia has once again postponed the consideration of a request by the de facto Prosecutor General’s Office to allow the prosecution of opposition politician and MP Kan Kvarchia. The postponement is related to “Judge” Temur Shonia’s self-recusal, the reasons for which remain unknown to the public. According to local assessments, this decision indicates that no judge is willing to approve the Prosecutor General’s petition.
The case stems from an incident of November 5, 2025, at the office of the Russian political consultants working in Sokhumi ahead of the local “elections”. Kvarchia, along with other participants of the incident, has been placed on Russia’s wanted list and charged with robbery on an especially large scale against Russian citizens. A parallel investigation is also conducted in Abkhazia. The de facto Prosecutor General’s Office petitioned the so-called Supreme Court to issue a conclusion on whether Kvarchia’s actions contain elements of a criminal offense, which is required to proceed with criminal prosecution against a sitting “member of the parliament”.
This was the second postponement of the case, following an earlier delay after Kvarchia requested the recusal of two judges – Ekaterina Adleiba, citing a conflict of interest due to her being the spouse of the de facto First Deputy Prosecutor General, and Marat Avidzba.
- 353 Detained in 2025 for Violating Abkhazia’s “Border Legislation”
353 individuals were detained in 2025 for violating Abkhazia’s “border legislation”, according to the de facto State Security Service. Under the articles “Violation of the Border Regime”, “Violation of the State Border Regime”, and “Violation of the Border Regime in the Territorial Sea and Internal Waters”, the detained individuals were brought to administrative responsibility. In addition, 19 criminal cases were opened on charges of “Illegal Crossing of the State Border”, while 28 individuals were held criminally liable.
De facto authorities also reported that more than 85 attempts to illegally transport various goods across the so-called Abkhaz-Georgian border were prevented. Seized items included over 2,000 tablets of the psychotropic substance phenobarbital, 138 grams of marijuana, tobacco products worth more than 1 million rubles, a pistol and ammunition, and church icons of cultural value.
- St. Petersburg Delegation Visits Sokhumi
De facto president Badra Gunba met with a delegation from Saint Petersburg, led by Vice-Governors Kirill Polyakov and Nikolay Linchenko. The meeting focused on strengthening Abkhazia’s economic, cultural, and educational ties with Russian regions. Gunba highlighted the success of the direct flight between Sokhumi and St. Petersburg, which carried around 9,000 passengers last year, and reaffirmed Abkhazia’s readiness to sign a cooperation agreement with the city, previously agreed upon in principle.
Vice-Governor Polyakov suggested signing the agreement at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June and announced plans to expand flights to at least twice weekly starting in May. He also noted ongoing support for Sokhumi, including the delivery of new trolleybuses, a vacuum cleaning vehicle, an ambulance, and a school bus for the Gudauta district. The delegation emphasized continued cultural and educational cooperation, including school renovation and modernization projects. They also plan to visit the Sokhumi Multidisciplinary College to discuss potential reconstruction initiatives.
Recently, visits from Russian federal regions to Abkhazia have become more frequent. On social media, these trips are often linked to “inspection activities” aimed at monitoring the targeted use of Russian financial assistance in the region.
- Excavations Uncover Artifacts
In Sokhumi, large-scale archaeological excavations have been launched as part of the ongoing renovation of the city’s embankment. According to Apsnypress, during the removal of the old surface, specialists uncovered a unique site: the remains of four fortifications dating from the 1st to 4th centuries CE. Archaeologists reportedly also found pottery fragments and approximately 20 coins of various origins, including those from Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire, and the Roman Empire.
Once the research is complete, all discoveries will become part of the “historical and cultural heritage” of Abkhazia. The de facto city administration is considering an exhibition to allow residents and visitors to see the unique artifacts. The embankment reconstruction, funded by Russian regional authorities, has been underway since 2025.
- Tourism to Abkhazia Faces New Passport Hurdle
Since January 20, new regulations in Russia have come into effect requiring that Russian children traveling to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia must have a foreign passport. Previously, minors could enter these countries and the occupied regions of Georgia using only a birth certificate.
According to Abkhaz tour operators, the new rule is already affecting demand, as Abkhazia has long been viewed as a low-formality destination in Russia, and a large share of Russian citizens lack foreign passports. In 2025, Abkhazia welcomed 1.6 million Russian tourists, Abkhazinform reports, an unprecedented number, largely boosted by the operationalization of Sokhumi Airport.
- FAO Holds Event in Gali to Support Women Farmers
Abkhaz media report on an event in Gali organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Project Office to mark International Women’s Day. The event was part of the “Promoting the Economic Resilience of Women Farmers in Abkhazia” project, implemented by the FAO Project Office with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It brought together women farmers involved in small-scale agriculture and agro-processing.
Tskhinvali
- Yarovitsky: Training of Tskhinvali Armed Forces Based on Experience of the “Special Military Operation”
Russian General Yury Yarovitsky, who serves as the “defense minister” of the occupied Tskhinvali region, said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta that the security and “peaceful tomorrow” of the region’s authorities are ensured by their armed formations and the Russian military base. Yarovitsky emphasized the intention to make local armed structures more mobile and equipped with modern weaponry, with active support from Russia’s Ministry of Defense. He said that a Center for Unmanned Systems and Electronic Warfare has been created, training grounds and training infrastructure are being modernized, and combat training programs are being revised with an emphasis on tactics in mountainous and forested terrain.
According to Yarovitsky, personnel are mainly trained in Russian military educational institutions; about 200 people are currently studying there, and since 2026, a mandatory contract requiring graduates to return after completing their studies has been introduced. The Russian side also trains instructors. The interview also highlights an increase in contract-based recruitment and the functioning of a system of military-patriotic education, including a cadet school.
- 25 Detained for “Border Violations” in February 2026
The “Border Service of the KGB” of the occupied Tskhinvali region reported that in February 2026, 25 people were detained at different sections of the administrative boundary line: five for attempting to cross the “demarcation line” and another 20 for violating the “border regime.”
According to the agency, seven of the violators received administrative fines, while the others were issued warnings; 13,000 rubles were collected for the budget. The service reminded that during the agricultural season, citizens and organizations must obtain permits in advance to work in the border zone.
- Akhsar Dzhioev: A Unified State with Georgia Out of the Question
The head of the “foreign ministry” of the occupied Tskhinvali region, Akhsar Dzhioev, said that the idea of a unified state with Georgia is completely excluded. Commenting on a recent statement by Mikheil Kavelashvili, he stressed that the position of the local authorities remains unchanged: “South Ossetia” is oriented toward partnership with Russia.
According to him, Georgia must “accept the realities that have emerged” after the August 2008 war and stop “speculating” about a unified state. He also cited the report of the EU commission, which, he said, records the responsibility of the Georgian side for the start of the conflict.
- Gagloev Orders Acceleration of Upgrading UAV and Electronic Warfare Center
The leader of the occupied Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloev, has ordered the acceleration of the upgrading of the Center for Unmanned Systems and Electronic Warfare, emphasizing the need for comprehensive training and the use of various types of UAVs. Defense Minister Yury Yarovitsky said that the modernization is being overseen by an officer who participated in Russia’s “special military operation” [Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine] and previously commanded a drone company.
Moscow-Tbilisi
- Markedonov: Georgia Maintains Caution in Relations with Iran
Russian political analyst Sergey Markedonov said in an interview with Interfax that the South Caucasus countries — Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia — are choosing a restrained approach amid the escalation around Iran. According to him, Georgia’s position stands out in particular. Markedonov noted that even during the rule of Mikheil Saakashvili, Tbilisi tried not to damage relations with Iran: Tehran offered assistance on gas-related issues, and an Iranian consulate was opened in Batumi.
According to Markedonov, Iranian authors have often viewed Georgia as part of the historical Iranian cultural space, criticizing the “de-Iranization of the Caucasus” as a factor that has intensified regional conflicts. At the same time, Tehran has publicly stated that it does not recognize the sovereignty of Abkhazia and “South Ossetia,” which has been perceived positively in Tbilisi.
Markedonov also pointed out that Georgia’s current leadership maintains diplomatic contacts with Iran: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as other regional leaders had previously done. He emphasized that this is a matter of diplomatic protocol rather than strategic rapprochement.
- Medvedev Again Speaks of ‘Global Network of U.S. Biolabs‘
Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that the United States has created a network of around 400 military-biological laboratories, which, he claims, allows it to influence the spread of epidemics. “As is known, the United States has formed a global military-biological network, using other countries as testing grounds for its experiments. As a result, millions of people unwittingly become hostages to deadly threats,” Medvedev wrote in an article for Expert magazine. According to him, such centers operate in different regions, including in CIS countries.
In an article about Medvedev’s interview, the Russian outlet Izvestia also recalled what it called “WikiLeaks” [WikiLeaks.ru – the Russian analogue] materials concerning the Lugar Laboratory in Georgia, which, according to the publication, operated under U.S. patronage and conducted research on dangerous pathogens. “It became known that the United States invested hundreds of millions of dollars in research and the production of dangerous pathogens,” the outlet wrote.
Tbilisi has repeatedly denied similar, longstanding claims from Moscow and Tskhinvali about the Lugar laboratory.
- Peskov Complains About Losing Propaganda Tools in ‘Near Abroad’
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia’s information work in the CIS space has become more complicated, as audiences are increasingly moving to foreign social media platforms, which he described as “hostile.” According to him, traditional television broadcasting is losing influence, while foreign platforms dominate in the countries of the former Soviet Union and around the world.
“We are now rapidly losing the tools for our propaganda work abroad, especially in the near abroad,” he said. “Television broadcasting is a relative thing nowadays; it can be switched off with the push of a button.” He noted: “We are dealing with hostile social networks that are at the peak of competitiveness in the CIS space and across the world,” adding that Russia is effectively not working in these platforms, including Telegram, and therefore needs new tools to convey its narratives and positions. He stressed that the state will have to develop an effective strategy for its presence in the digital sphere.
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