US, Europe want our capital to be in Tbilisi – de facto Abkhaz President

Abkhazia’s de facto president, Aslan Bzhania, on Monday emphasized the “paramount importance” of maintaining strong relations with Russia, before citing perceived threats from the West, particularly the US and European nations, asserting they seek to “diminish Abkhazia’s global standing and impede its development”

He claimed the West’s agenda included relocating Abkhazia’s capital from Sokhumi to Tbilisi systematically. He argued that this effort aimed to “downplay” Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia’s “sovereignty”. In response to these “challenges”, Bzhania highlighted Abkhazia’s alliance with Russia, emphasizing ongoing efforts to strengthen ties. According to him, the  partnership was a “strategic necessity” to counteract Western pressures and safeguard Abkhazia’s developmental interests.

Russia recognized the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as independent states after its war with Georgia in 2008. The de facto Abkhaz leadership have recently voiced plans to deploy Russia’s naval base in the region, on the backdrop of Mowcow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.