Kremlin overseer: “There are no anti-Russian sentiments in Abkhazia”

Anti-Russian sentiments in Abkhazia

Sergei Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Russia and the Kremlin’s overseer for Abkhazia, acknowledged that there are no anti-Russian sentiments in the republic.

In an interview with two Abkhaz TV channels, Kiriyenko commented on several sensitive issues in Russian-Abkhaz relations.

“I believe there are no anti-Russian sentiments in Abkhaz society. By ‘sentiments,’ I mean the prevailing opinion of a significant part of the population.

There may be individuals who dislike Russia – such people exist everywhere, that’s normal. But there are no widespread anti-Russian sentiments, although certain statements do appear, of course,” Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Chief of Staff, stated.

Amid scandals and gunfire, Kremlin-backed Badra Gunba becomes Abkhazia’s president

His opponent, opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba, secured 41.54% of the vote.

In February 2025, Abkhazia held early presidential elections that Badra Gunba won with strong Kremlin support. Throughout the campaign, Russian media promoted the narrative that his main rival, opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba, was “anti-Russian” and “looking toward the West and Turkey.”

As part of the same political pressure, two Abkhaz opposition figures were stripped of their Russian citizenship, and Russia’s Justice Ministry added three journalists to its registry of “foreign agents.”

Opposition groups and civil society repeatedly urged the new president to state publicly that there are no anti-Russian forces in the republic, but Gunba avoided doing so.

Now, the statement they had long expected from him has instead been made by a senior Kremlin official.

'Repression on outsourcing': why is Russia declaring Abkhazian journalists 'foreign agents'? Opinion

Lawyer Said Gezerdava believes that this persecution was initiated by the authorities of Abkhazia

Kiriyenko also reminded that:

“Some people in Abkhazia who now accuse the authorities of endangering national interests by expanding cooperation with Russia were, not so long ago in 2014, actively advocating for strategic partnership with Russia and signing the relevant treaties and agreements.

And conversely, some of those who now publicly call for deeper cooperation with Russia were the very same people who, back in 2014, were blocking roads with signs reading ‘We won’t let the traitors of the Motherland through!’”

Russian political strategists secretly worked for pro-presidential candidates in Abkhazia

One ran a “local” newspaper and was smearing opponents, the other secretly worked at the Election Commission. The opposition exposed them, but the “consultants” were simply expelled from Abkhazia

Referring to the Russian political consultants who had been working illegally for pro-government candidates in the recent municipal elections in Abkhazia, Kiriyenko said:

“They had undoubtedly violated Abkhaz law as well as “the moral and ethical norms of Caucasian hospitality.”

However, Kiriyenko was also unimpressed by the actions of the Abkhaz opposition activists who exposed these consultants.

“No violations committed by Russian citizens give anyone the right to resort to physical retaliation or vigilante justice. The fact that they were beaten is absolutely unacceptable and has no justification,” Kiriyenko insisted.

Russia launches criminal case against three Abkhaz opposition figures, including MP

They are accused of “robbery against three Russian citizens.”

In his view, Russian law enforcement acted correctly by opening a criminal case against the opposition figures whom the political consultants accused of assault and robbery.

According to Kirienko, “Abkhazia should punish those who violated its laws, and Russia should punish those responsible for the vigilante attacks.”

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