Day: November 20, 2023

On November 17, the leader of the occupied region of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, declared his readiness to accommodate Vladimir Putin by putting the state Soviet -era “dacha” property in Bichvinta (the so-called “Pitsunda state dacha”) at his disposal. The statement was made during a meeting with Abkhaz students on International Students’ Day.

The question about the controversy surrounding the status of the transfer of the Bichvinta dacha and of the so-called apartment law came from a student attending the meeting.

Bichvinta State Dacha

Bzhania responded by explaining that the Bichvinta case involves the transfer of ownership of buildings and structures, not the land on which they stand, for reconstruction and major repairs [ed.- the complex covers 4,000 sq. meters].

Bzhania emphasized that Putin has visited Bichvinta several times and plans to continue these visits, noting that the Russian side requested to receive the dacha so that investments could be made to reconstruct these properties to make them more suitable for the Russian President. “According to their legislation, they can’t make capital investments abroad… if the properties are not under their ownership.”

“He… intends to make there a residence, a modern residence, for his needs. And I think it will be right to meet his needs. And I think that the majority of citizens think so… So this work is actually going on. A lot depends on it,” – said Aslan Bzhania, adding: “This is not only a legal issue, it is also a political one”.

Bzhania noted that the controversy over the Bichvinta transfer is being “fed in” to put Abkhazia’s relations with Russia and the Russian people “on the same level” as relations with European countries that “ignore us”. He stated that there is a “special relationship” between the region and Russia, noting that many of the students attending the meeting have Russian citizenship, that the population feels close to Russians, use the Russian language, and “the only window to the world [they] have today is through Russia.”

He also referred to the current war between Russia and Ukraine as the “conflict on the European continent,” and in this context advocated closer relations with Russia in these difficult times, saying that “everybody is against Russia”.

It was first decided in 1995 that Bichvinta would be transferred to Russia through a long-term lease, although no practical steps have been taken since then. Russia has stepped up its efforts to finalize the deal, with the text of a new agreement to transfer the land for 49 years emerging on January 19, 2022, which has yet to be ratified. The issue has been a hot topic of discussion in Abkhazia ever since, with both the public and officials divided on the matter. In May this year, young activists were arrested while protesting against the transfer.

• 25/07/2022 – Watchdog Urges Government to Address Bichvinta Transfer to Russia

Temur Nadaraia, former head of Gali administration, stated at the de facto public council of the Abkhaz foreign affairs establishment meeting held last year that the main source of the controversy is that the “authorities do not discuss such sensitive issues with the public in advance. The wide outcry is caused precisely by this and not by anti-Russian sentiments.” Ruslan Khashig, director of Abaza-TV and long-time journalist, claimed that “no one is against the transfer of the resort to Russia but it is necessary to make a legal examination of this document.” Inal Ardzinba, the foreign minister, promised to hold a meeting with the “Russian ambassador to Abkhazia” Mikhail Shurgalin to discuss the matter further.

Apartment Law

Regarding the Apartment Law, Bzhania noted that aparthotels are being built in Abkhazia without a regulatory framework for their construction, and stressed that the main purpose of the law would be to regulate the issue of where and how these apartments are built. He noted that these aparthotels are needed because despite Abkhazia’s tourism potential, the region is falling behind due to the lack of hotels to accommodate incoming tourists.

He also addressed the prominent argument of the law’s opponents, who say that because these apartments can be sold to foreigners, it would upset the demographic balance in Abkhazia. Bzhania explained: “There is no demographic threat here, because the people who travel here have no political rights.”

He noted that the biggest investment opportunity that Abkhazia has right now is through these aparthotels, adding that the region doesn’t have the financial capacity to cope with the amount of infrastructure that needs to be reconstructed or rebuilt. He noted that over the past 30 years almost all infrastructure projects have been done with the help of Russian financial assistance and therefore to discuss to discuss whether to give Pitsunda Dacha [to Russia] or not- “this is not a right discussion, this is a bad discussion.”

The context: de facto Foreign Minister of the occupied region Inal Ardzinba announced last week that international NGOs that consider Abkhazia to be occupied territory will soon be banned from entering the region. Meanwhile plans are underway for cooperation between the Russian-annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia to revive the old Soviet-era “Kometa” sea route connecting the cities of Gelendzhik – Novorossiysk – Sochi – Sokhumi.

The de facto foreign minister of the occupied region, Inal Ardzinba, recently stated that Abkhazia’s accession to the Union State with Russia and Belarus is “is fully in the fundamental interests of the people of the republic”. Sergei Shamba, the so-called “secretary of the Security Council” and “ex-Prime Minister”, has claimed that Abkhazia is “part of the Russian world”.

Also Read:

• 24/10/2023 – Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence: Russia Plans to Relocate Black Sea Fleet from Crimea to Abkhazia
• 07/10/2023 – Context | Russian Navy Base in occupied Abkhazia?
• 29/08/2023 – Karasin: Russia Does Everything Possible so China and India Recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia

On November 20, in its statement, the Social Justice Center (SJC), a local watchdog, called on the Special Investigation Service of Georgia to fully implement the decision of the European Court of Human Rights of January 2023 regarding the case of Temirlan Machalikashvili, the 18-year-old who was shot in the head during his detention on terrorism-related charges in December 2017. In addition to this demand, the watchdog is advocating for the immediate resumption of the investigation at the national level.

On January 19, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled on the case of Machalikashvili and Others v. Georgia (application no. 32245/19). The court held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of the protection foreseen by the Convention’s Article 2 – the right to life in its procedural aspect, and, by six votes to one concluded that there had been no violation of the same article in its substantive aspect (right to life).

According to the SJC’s statement, “the fundamental flaws in the investigation were precisely what made the European Court [referring to the ECHR] unable to consider the substantive violation of the right to life.” The watchdog further noted that on April 18, 2023, it filed an appeal with the ECHR on behalf of the Machalikashvili family regarding this part of the verdict. However, the Grand Chamber of the ECHR declared the appeal inadmissible on May 22, 2023, after which the ruling went into effect.

The watchdog notes that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is monitoring Georgia’s implementation of the ECHR rulings on the Machalikashvili case along with other cases of violations of the right to life.

“The Committee consolidated the Machalikashvili case with other cases against Georgia for violation of the right to life (Tsintsabadze group) and initiated intensified monitoring. Subsequently, on October 23, the Social Justice Center submitted a report to the Committee of Ministers on the necessary individual and general measures to implement the Court’s rulings,” the watchdog added.

The Social Justice Center urges the resumption of the investigation at the national level. In addition, the watchdog is calling for systemic institutional changes in Georgia. According to the SJC, these changes should include increasing the accountability of the State Security Service during special operations, removing barriers to access to confidential materials for individuals and their lawyers, ensuring procedural rights for individuals, and addressing the state’s systemic indifference to investigations into violations by law enforcement agencies.

The SJC insists that it addressed the Special Investigation Service to reopen the investigation, and although the Investigation Service did not formally refuse the request, it provided an “unfounded and vague” statement that it would consult with the Committee of Ministers in the following six months on the steps to be taken to implement the ECHR decision. The watchdog argues that such consultations are not provided for in the Committee’s procedure on the implementation of ECHR decisions.

The watchdog claims that the position of the Special Investigation Service “looks more like a deliberate delay in the resumption of the investigation”. According to the watchdog, if the investigation is faced with such delays, there’s a potential risk that essential investigative measures will not be properly carried out, making it difficult to achieve the correct legal result in the case. “At the same time, such an approach of the Special Investigation Service shows a general misunderstanding of the procedures for the enforcement of the decisions of the European Court and has a negative impact on the confidence in this new agency,” the watchdog concluded.

Also Read:

• 28/01/2020 – Prosecutor’s Office Terminates Investigation into Machalikashvili Case
• 13/01/2020 – Watchdog Assesses Machalikashvili Case Materials Containing State Secrets
• 01/10/2019 – ECHR Launches Consideration of Machalikashvili Case

On November 20, U.S. Ambassador Kristina Kvien hosted an event to launch a new Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Initiative. Through the initiative, the 4^th-5^th Century Yereruyk Basilica in Shirak Province will be preserved with a $175,000 conservation grant from the U.S. Embassy.

“We are honored that our support through the Ambassador Fund for Cultural Preservation will contribute to the preservation of Yereruyk Basilica, safeguarding this treasure for the world, and making this example of Armenia’s unique cultural heritage accessible for future generations,” said Ambassador Kvien.

Through the Ambassadors Fund, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan has provided $1.4 million in funding to support 13 conservation projects since 2005.  The Yereruyk initiative will include fortification of the monument’s walls, replacement of eroded stones, installation of a drainage system to reroute water, improvement of the monument environment and its preparation as an area for exhibition of the existing monumental stones.

Approximately 50  guests from across the cultural heritage and education sectors attended the launch event.  Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan attended and spoke on behalf of the Armenian government.

Other recent AFCP projects for Armenia include, preservation of Sanahin Monastery in Lori Province, restoration of endangered frescoes at St. Hovhannes Church in Meghri, Syunik Province, and preservation of the Areni-1 Cave in Vayots Dzor.  See a complete list of previous AFCP projects in Armenia. Learn more about AFCP.

The event also featured the premiere of the “Awakening” music video by MVF Band, funded by the U.S. Embassy. The band recently traveled to the United States on the U.S. Department of State’s Center Stage cultural exchange program.  Featuring the song “Awakening”, the music video showcased the band performing at Yereruk Basilica, as well as across the United States during their U.S. exchange. 

“We are proud to produce this music video to celebrate MVF’s U.S. exchange experience and recognize their important efforts to deepen U.S.-Armenia cultural ties” said Ambassador Kvien.