Abkhaz students in Russia face pressure to register for military service
Abkhaz students in Russia
Students from Abkhazia studying at Russian universities are being asked to register for military service. Formally, this is permitted because many hold dual Russian and Abkhaz citizenship.
The Abkhaz authorities, however, disagree and say they are developing legal mechanisms to rule out the conscription of Abkhaz citizens into the Russian army.
In 2025, there has been a rise in cases where Abkhaz students at some Russian universities are being forced to register for military service under threat of expulsion.
In response, the leadership of Abkhazia’s foreign and defence ministries held a joint meeting to coordinate their position and adopt legal measures.
According to the foreign ministry’s press service, the ministers discussed possible solutions, including measures under the “Agreement on the Regulation of Dual Citizenship Issues between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.”
The main argument is that these young people belong to Abkhazia’s own mobilisation reserve and should be registered for military service there, not in Russia.
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Abkhaz students in Russia
