Kremlin Tightens Grip on Abkhazia by Targeting Local Journalists as Foreign Agents

In a regular update to its “foreign agents” list released on Friday, Russia’s Ministry of Justice added two journalists from Abkhazia, a Georgian breakaway region that has recently experienced protests over a contentious investment arrangement with Moscow.

Izida Chania, editor-in-chief of Abkhazia’s oldest independent news outlet, Nuzhnaya Gazeta, and Nizfa Arshba, head of the local news agency Aishara, were accused of disseminating “false information about the decisions and policies” of Russian authorities.

Earlier this month, Inal Khashig, founder of the independent news platform Chegemskaya Pravda, became the first Abkhaz journalist to be registered as a “foreign agent” by Russia.

Since the inception of this registry in 2012, the Kremlin has utilized the “foreign agent” label as a weapon in its assault on civil society, targeting hundreds of cultural figures, journalists, businesspeople, news organizations, and NGOs.

Those identified as “foreign agents” are required to file financial disclosures and include a detailed disclaimer on all their published work, with noncompliance resulting in potential criminal prosecution.

Regional experts and local commentators assert that by designating Abkhaz journalists as foreign agents, the Kremlin aims to tighten its control over Abkhazia and bolster the position of its recently elected, Moscow-aligned President Badra Gunba.

“Olesya Vartanyan, a security and conflict analyst specializing in the South Caucasus, noted that after the November turmoil in Abkhazia, Moscow adopted a significantly harsher approach toward local politicians, activists, and journalists.”

In November, significant demonstrations erupted in the capital, Sokhumi, against a controversial agreement with Moscow that promised various advantages for Russian investors in Abkhazia, including an eight-year exemption from taxes and customs duties.

The protests culminated in the resignation of President Aslan Bzhania, who was backed by Moscow. However, contrary to the hopes of the opposition, Gunba, who is aligned with the Kremlin, secured the presidency in the subsequent runoff.

“Many civil society and opposition members have had their Russian passports revoked, effectively isolating them in this unrecognized region. Others have been added to Russia’s list of foreign agents to further distance them from the local populace,” Vartanyan reported to The Moscow Times.

“Such measures aim to quell regular local resistance against Russian-led initiatives that often provoke protests and have previously led to the ousting of the last three local leaders,” she elaborated.

Russia has pursued its passportization strategy in Abkhazia since at least 2002. Two decades later, around 60% of the region’s inhabitants are estimated to hold dual citizenship of Russia and Abkhazia, according to figures from regional news source JAM News.

Given that only five UN member states—Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, Tuvalu, and Venezuela—recognize Abkhazia’s independence, a Russian passport frequently serves as a crucial means for Abkhazians to navigate the world rather than a sign of fealty to Moscow.

Nizfa Arshba, one of the designated “foreign agents,” stands out as she possesses solely an Abkhaz passport.

“I have never been a citizen of the Russian Federation. I am not now. And Abkhazia is not Russia,” Arshba declared in a video statement on Friday.

Numerous independent observers in Abkhazia speculate that the list of potential foreign agents may have been compiled and handed to Moscow by the loyal administration in Sokhumi, which is trying to eliminate any semblance of opposition.

Despite pleas from various civil society members and the newly categorized “foreign agent” Inal Khashig, Abkhazia’s government has yet to make an official statement regarding the recent listings.

Prominent Abkhaz lawyer Said Gezerdava characterized the situation as an example of “outsourcing repression.”

“This retaliation against investigative and critical journalism, as well as reports on the recent ‘elections’, is evident,” Gezerdava stated in an opinion piece for the local outlet Okno.

“Why should Abkhaz journalists who comment on the local authorities and their flawed foreign policies be deemed ‘foreign agents’ by a neighboring nation? It’s difficult to understand who could truly find this necessary outside of Abkhazia,” he added.

“We are regressing to the dark chapters of Abkhaz history, where, in the name of power, wealth, and other interests, some citizens betray others. If we become accustomed to these repressive actions, we may well see even harsher ones in the future,” the lawyer warned.