NTV Podcast on Abkhazia
Hannes Meissner recently discussed the current situation in Abkhazia with KevinSchulte, NTV. You can listen to the insights shared in the NTV Podcast “Wieder was gelernt”. The unrest was triggered by a possible investment agreement between Russia and the pro-Russian de-facto state of Abkhazia that is part of Georgia according to international law. The local opposition (Abkhazia is a relatively free country) feared a sell-out to Russia. However, the protests were in any way the result of any fundamental criticism of Russia. The region on the BlackSea lives from Russian transfer payments and Russian tourists. And Russia secures the independence of Abkhazia from Georgia. In the podcast, Hannes Meissner also highlights that the fears in Abkhazia are also related to the geopolitical changes in the South Caucasus. As Russia is gaining control over Georgia under the influence of oligarch Bidzina #Ivanishvili and the governing party Georgian Dream, controlled by him, Abkhazians fear a rapprochement between Tbilisi and Moscow, which could undermine their sovereignty.