In Abkhazia, corruption has long since exceeded the bounds of isolated offences and has become a systemic crisis encompassing all spheres of governance. Against the backdrop of the ostensible renewal of the de facto government and personnel changes, the question is increasingly being raised in society: can a mere “change of faces” dismantle the corrupt machinery built over many years?

The scale of corruption is highlighted by the former so-called Minister for Taxes and Duties, Daur Kurmazia, who categorises corruption into three main levels:

• Situational: everyday bribery (for example, payments to doctors or inspectors to carry out a specific task).
• Structural: deeply entrenched patterns in which particular sectors or institutions operate through the abuse of the system.
• Systemic: the fusion of power and crime, whereby corruption becomes the foundation of public administration and forms a system deeply rooted throughout society.

The most visible manifestations of corruption are concentrated in several critical sectors. The first is the energy sector, where the inefficient collection of payments and shadow consumption lead to recurring crises. No less problematic are land and property relations (the unlawful allocation of land plots and manipulations involving commercial real estate) and the tourism and trade sector, where nepotism and shadow financial flows hinder the development of free enterprise.

When discussing corruption in Abkhazia, it is impossible to overlook the role of the Russian Federation, which is one of the principal architects and beneficiaries of the region’s corrupt quagmire. This influence manifests itself in two main aspects:

1. Misappropriation and control of subsidies: For years, financial assistance and “investment programmes” coming from Moscow have been distributed among and disappeared into the hands of local elites. The Russian side does not react to such practices, as corrupt proxies are easier and more effective to manage.
2. Seizure of land and property: In recent years, Russia has directly urged Sukhumi to adopt the so-called “Law on Apart-Hotels” and to open the real estate market to Russian oligarchs. The unlawful allocation of land plots and manipulations involving commercial real estate are directly linked to Russian interests. Moscow uses corrupt levers to enable local officials to circumvent public protest and to allow Russian capital to gain ownership of Abkhazia’s most valuable resources.

In Abkhazia, to counter corruption, there exists the so-called “anti-corruption law” and a system for the declaration of public officials’ income; however, they remain only on paper. Daur Kurmazia considers that the reason for this failure is an incorrect strategy for combating corruption and a deficit of public accountability. According to him, “the root of all evil is the low salary”, which pushes officials towards seeking informal income.

In addition, the problem also lies within society itself, where there is limited understanding of the issue, and even during election periods voters choose candidates for their own mercantile purposes.

This situation is not accepted by local civil society. Initiative groups regularly hold protests and call for the introduction of genuine anti-corruption mechanisms. Their main demand is alignment with international standards, in particular the ratification of Article 20 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (on illicit enrichment), which would require officials to explain the origin of their wealth.

The way out of the current crisis does not lie in cosmetic personnel changes alone. It is necessary for society to develop a demand for accountability and for the establishment of control mechanisms. Otherwise, Abkhazia will remain a corrupt captive of Russian oligarchic interests and local clans.