Russia strikes new aid deal with Abkhazia Moscow announces new support for breakaway Georgian region after visiting presidential candidate vows to revisit investment agreement

The Kremlin announced on Thursday that it’s resuming aid to Abkhazia in numerous areas after presidential candidate Badra Gunba visited Moscow and pledged to revise an investment agreement with Russia that sparked a local political crisis last year. While in Moscow, Gunba met with various senior state officials, including Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, and representatives of other ministries and agencies.

At the end of Gunba’s visit, officials announced that Russia would transfer 343 million rubles ($3.6 million) to Sukhumi to fund salary payments to Abkhazia’s public sector employees. Starting February 7, Russia would also fully restore the region’s electricity supply. Moscow also said Russian airlines would begin regular flights in the summer to Sukhumi’s remodeled airport, with the first test flight scheduled for Friday.

After speaking to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Gunba said Abkhazia was prepared to revise its investment agreement with Russia. “We need to reconsider its format and continue implementing investment projects necessary for the development of our state,” Gunba said, with Novak nodding.

Abkhazia reached an investment agreement with Russia last October, extending various preferences to Russian companies operating in the breakaway Georgian region in various sectors, including agriculture, tourism, transportation, and gas supply.

The benefits granted to Russian entities caused public outrage in Abkhazia, with opposition politicians arguing that they disadvantaged local businesses. The crisis culminated in mass protests and President Aslan Bzhania’s resignation. Badra Gunba then assumed the role of acting president (he later suspended his powers when he launched his presidential campaign). On December 12, Abkhazia’s parliament voted against ratifying the agreement.

Russia responded with economic pressure, suspending financial aid essential to the Abkhazian state’s basic operations. The shutdown of the Inguri Hydropower Plant also disrupted power supplies, leading to extended daily outages. In late December, Russia began delivering humanitarian electricity at Gunba’s request.

Abkhazia will hold its next presidential election on February 15.