The scandal over the so-called "residence issue" continues to unfoldAbkhazian prime minister Sergey Shamba recently rejected the plan presented by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to which Russian citizens who had left Abkhazia were to be given their places of residence back. Using rather inappropriate rhetoric for a diplomat, Sergey Shamba said that the issue "is not worth discussing".
For the first time, Sukhumi is demonstrating its unwillingness to settle the matter and a reluctance to compromise. Moreover, the scandal is widely discussed by the Abkhazian media, which shows that the confidential information was probably leaked by Abkhazian officials. The scandal could now damage the reputation of the Russian authorities.
The official position of the Abkhazian official is that the apartments that were left by the Russians in the 90s were not their private property and so cannot be given back. These apartments were confiscated by the State and turned over to local residents.
In any case, the whole situation shows that Sukhumi intends to set a policy that will be independent from Moscow. On the one hand, Russia is powerful enough to impose its own will on the country, as Moscow is financing the budget of the republic. On the other hand, any
aggressive measures will make Abkhazia improve its relations with Georgia to counterbalance Russia.
Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK.
