Abkhaz Inaugural Contributes to a Spike in Russian-Georgian Tension

During inauguration ceremonies in Georgia's separatist region of Abkhazia, the territory's new "president," Sergei Bagapsh, vowed to press ahead with efforts to forge a "strategic union with Russia." Bagapsh's comments have contributed to another spike in tension between Georgia and Russia.

After taking the oath of office on February 12, Bagapsh's made it clear that Abkhazia would not back down from its effort to break away from Georgia. "I swear that I shall defend the freedom of independence of Abkhazia, and that our children will live in a free, independent land with a market economy," he said in his inaugural address. Abkhazia has operated beyond Tbilisi's reach since the defeat of Georgian forces in a 1992-93 war. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has made the country's territorial integration his top policy priority. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The highly contentious presidential election in Abkhazia featured a heavy-handed Russian support for Bagapsh's rival. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The bungled Russian effort raised hopes in Tbilisi that Bagapsh might downgrade the region's relations with Moscow, and look for a rapprochement opportunity with Georgia. The inaugural speech, however, appeared to dash any hopes for a fast thaw in the Abkhaz-Georgian relationship. Though he wasn't Russia's first choice, Bagapsh is not about to shun Moscow.

"We will continue everything that was started by the previous leadership," Bagapsh told the Russian RBK television channel, referring to former Abkhaz leader Vladislav Ardzinba's administration. He pledged to strive for "the closest possible integration" with Russia. "The Russian Federation is practically our only partner with who our trade relations are functioning properly," he said.

Bagapsh wasted little time in putting his team in place in Sukhumi. On February 14, he appointed Alexander Ankvab as "prime minister" of the unrecognized republic, the Civil Georgia website reported. Ankvab has strong ties to the region's security apparatus and is a well-known Bagapsh ally.

Abkhazia is just one of several sources of contention between Georgia and Russia. Talks on February 11 aimed at ending an impasse on the fate of two Russian military bases in Georgia failed to make headway. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Discussions on the base issue, which centers on the timetable for Russian withdrawal, could revive February 18, when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to visit Georgia.

Meanwhile, top Russian and Georgian leaders traded angry words at a security conference in Munich, Germany. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov repeated Moscow's assertions that Tbilisi has been lax in preventing "terrorists" from using Georgia as a transit country, as they travel to Chechnya to join the long-running insurgent struggle against Russian forces. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

"We have wiped out many foreign mercenaries during military operations in Chechnya who had Georgian tourist visas in their passports," Ivanov was quoted as saying by the Kavkasia-Press news agency. Ivanov went on to criticize Georgia for refusing Moscow's offers to assist Tbilisi in training border guards. He also reasserted Moscow's right to launch a pre-emptive strike anywhere in the world in order to reduce the terrorist threat against Russia.

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili expressed "outrage" over Ivanov's remarks. Georgian border guard officials in Tbilisi likewise denied that they turned a blind eye toward militants seeking to cross the Georgian frontier into Chechnya.