Short Items on Abkhazia

Abkhazia announced the preliminary results of the census, which was held in late February. Abkhazia has 242,862 citizens. 119,371 live in urban areas, 123,455 live in rural areas. Sukhumi has 64,478 people.

*****

Abkhazia held joint training with Russian border guards. The main manoeuvres were held in the upper reaches of the Kodor River, a territory controlled by Georgia until August 2008.

*****

Abkhaz public figures spoke for delimitation and demarcation of the state border between Abkhazia and Russia. Russia plans to hand 16 hectares of land to Abkhazia. Any claims against the territorial unity of Abkhazia will be considered unconstitutional.

*****

General-Major Vladimir Vasilchenko, former deputy head of the Siberian Military District, has become the head of the Abkhaz General Staff and the Deputy Defense Minister.

*****

Abkhazia does not plan to rename its police service. Interior Minister Leonid Dzapshba said on March 30 that they will need to study Russian experience before renaming the “militia” the “police”.