The detention of Abkhaz lawyer Irakli Bzhinava in
Russia on February 5 appears to be part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to
advance the annexation of Abkhazia. The initial reason cited for Bzhinava’s
detention was his publication of materials supporting Abkhaz public initiatives
and civil activists. Later, media reports suggested that a Facebook post in
which he discussed the issuance of Russian internal passports in Abkhazia
served as the basis for his detention.
Irakli Bzhinava is a lawyer and chairman of the Abkhaz
diaspora in Rostov and is actively involved in civic activism. His assessments
and arguments carry significant influence within Abkhaz society.
The Facebook post cited as the reason for his detention
addressed the ceremony of taking the so-called oath when obtaining Russian
passports in Abkhazia starting in 2024. In the post, representatives of the
Abkhaz opposition, including Bzhinava, criticized the practice, arguing that
requiring citizens of an “independent state” to swear allegiance to another
country (Russia) when receiving a Russian passport constitutes a violation of
the country’s “sovereignty.”
Russian media has not reported on the detention or the
charges. The information mentioned above has circulated only on Telegram
channels. For the Kremlin, openly addressing the detention and the charges
would be disadvantageous, as it could further deepen anti-Russian sentiment
within Abkhaz society.
Within Abkhaz society, Bzhinava’s detention has been
widely perceived as political persecution and a restriction on freedom of
speech. Many view his actions and posts as a defense of the idea of Abkhazia’s
independence. At the same time, there is growing concern about the
intensification of Russia’s expansionist policy, with many believing that by
detaining Bzhinava, Moscow is directly interfering in Abkhazia’s internal
politics and suppressing the expression of critical views.
The detention of Irakli Bzhinava may signal a new wave of repression by Russia aimed at those who oppose the Kremlin’s expansionist policies.
აფხაზეთის პოლიტიკურ
სივრცეში აქტიურად განიხილება ოპოზიციონერი ლიდერის, ადგურ არძინბას დაბრუნება და მისი
ბოლო პოლიტიკური განცხადებები, რომლებიც შიდა და გარე პოლიტიკურ პროცესებს ეხება.
The case of
former de facto deputies of South Ossetia’s de facto parliament, David Sanakoyev,
Garry Muldarov and Dzambolat Medoyev, who are appealing the decision to revoke
their citizenship of the Russian Federation, remains unresolved to date.
To silence critical media, “Georgian Dream” tries to use financial sanctions. Following several television, online and radio broadcasters, regional media have now also been affected.
