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2024: Internet blackout at night to combat miners
In Abkhazia, in December 2024, they began a test shutdown of the Internet at night from 00:00 to 07:00 to combat illegal mining of cryptocurrencies. The decision was made by the Headquarters to ensure the energy security of the republic in connection with the critical situation in the energy sector.
Chernomorenergo CEO Timur Gindzholia said that mining farms consume 40-45 megawatts of the total energy system, which is about 350 million kVt⋅ch a year.
 | This is more than our deficit, which is developing. Even in such a difficult situation, illegal mining continues, which further aggravates the crisis, due to which the entire population of the country suffers, - said the head of the company. |  |
The deterioration of the energy situation in the republic is associated with a complication of relations with Russia. The Russian side raised tariffs for supplied electricity and introduced a prepayment requirement after the refusal of the Abkhazian parliament to ratify the investment agreement.
The popularity of mining in Abkhazia is due to low electricity tariffs - ₽1,7 per kVt⋅ch. Previously, this figure was even lower and amounted to ₽0,4 per kVt⋅ch. A significant part of the territory of the republic, including the capital Sukhum, is provided by Russian electricity.
The general director of the Seogun agency Dmitry Artimovich explained the technical reason for the effectiveness of the method of combating mining through turning off the Internet. To form a transaction block, constant communication between network members is required, which is impossible without access to the WAN.
There are two mobile operators in the republic - Akvafon, controlled by the Russian Megafon, and A-Mobile, owned by Russian entrepreneur Yevgeny Palant. Wired Internet is provided by the state-owned enterprise Abkhazsvyaz and Gagra-Telecom[1]
Budget of Abkhazia
2023
Since 2008, Abkhazia received 110 billion rubles of interstate assistance from Russia
Abkhazia has received over 110 billion rubles from Russia since 2008 as part of interstate assistance. This was announced on August 18, 2023 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Inal Ardzinba.
According to him, in this amount, 30 billion rubles is an investment program, the so-called budget investments. Another 40 billion rubles each came from salaries and pensions. So, within the framework of pension support, Abkhazia receives from the Russian Federation about 4 billion rubles annually. In July, 24,400 residents of the republic received Russian pension payments, the total amount of which is approximately 300 million rubles.
| | Billions of rubles are required to modernize our army. The same needs in other sectors - health care, education, etc. You can't sit back today. It is necessary to look for new sources of replenishment of the revenue part of the budget, - said Inal Ardzinba. | |
Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which proclaimed it in the 90s. Also, the independence of states is recognized by Venezuela, Syria, Nicaragua and Nauru. Georgia by August 2023 still considers them its territories.
In August 2023, Inal Ardzinba stressed that Abkhazia and Russia have formed a very serious legal framework. Including the two main agreements "On friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance" of 2008 and "On alliance and strategic partnership" of 2014.
In July 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a federal law ratifying an agreement between Russia and Abkhazia to allow dual citizenship. The law assumes that a person with dual citizenship has the right to social security, education, medical care in accordance with the legislation of the country in which he lives. The document also states that military service is carried out according to the same principle and after that the person is exempted from conscription in another country.[2]
Ministry of Economic Development - Russia subsidizes more than 40% of the budget of Abkhazia
Russian Federation subsidizes more than 40% of the budget of Abkhazia. This was announced on July 4, 2023. Minister of Economic Development of Russia Maxim Reshetnikov
| | The economy of Abkhazia is growing, and today 58% of the budget is provided by the republic independently, the remaining 42% - by subsidies from the Russian budget, "Reshetnikov quoted Interfax as saying. | |
On July 4, 2023, Reshetnikov paid a working visit to Abkhazia: as part of the trip, a meeting was held with the President of the Republic Aslan Bzhania. The meeting discussed the implementation of an investment program to promote the socio-economic development of Abkhazia. Reshetnikov called the main goal of his arrival in the republic a visit to "the main facilities that Abkhazia is restoring with the support of Russia." These are primarily enterprises of energy and communal infrastructure, which are important both for residents of the republic and for tourists. It is noted that in 2022 more than 1 million Russians rested in Abkhazia.
| | I think the numbers for this [2023] year will be the same. Therefore, it is extremely important that there is a stable energy supply here, there are normal treatment facilities. It is very important that objects related to solid waste (solid household waste) work normally. This is a set of measures that the republic implements and builds with the support of the Russian federal budget, - said Reshetnikov. | |
The Russian minister also added that there are large electric power facilities in the republic that require additional investments. They are necessary for the functioning of the tourist infrastructure and for the operation of the Sukhumi airport, which will be reconstructed. In turn, Aslan Bzhania expressed full support for the actions taken by the Russian leadership to protect the rule of law and constitutional order, ensure the safety of citizens and stability in the republic.[3]
Investments
2024: Abkhazian parliament rejects investment agreement with Russia
The Parliament of Abkhazia in December 2024 voted against the ratification of the investment agreement with Russia, which suggested the possibility for Russian companies to implement projects on the territory of the republic.
The document was signed at the end of October 2024 and was to be ratified on November 15. However, the day before, on November 11, protests against the agreement began in Sukhumi, which by November 15 had escalated into an assault on the parliament building. After these events, President Aslan Bzhania announced his resignation, which parliament soon approved. Early presidential elections were scheduled for February 15.
The republic, fully existing through financial support from Russia, refuses to open the door to Russian investment.
Power
2024: Abkhazia from Russia from 2020 received electricity for ₽10 billion free of charge
From 2020 to October 2024, Russia supplied electricity worth ₽10,1 billion of the total supply of ₽11 billion to Abkhazia free of charge, Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Abkhazia Kristina Ozgan said on December 13, 2024. Read more here.
Culture
History
2024: One lawmaker shot dead in Parliament while discussing cryptocurrency mining ban over power shortage
The shooting in Abkhazia's parliament, which left one lawmaker dead and a second injured, took place on December 19, 2024 over a dispute over a complete ban on cryptocurrency mining.
The draft law on such a ban on the territory of the republic a few days before that was adopted in the first reading by the parliament. The shortage of electricity in Abkhazia, according to the authorities, is precisely connected with illegal mining.
On December 18, 2024, the Minister of Energy and Transport of Abkhazia said that the republic asked Russia to supply 327 million kVt⋅ch of electricity for free in 2025, but did not receive a response.
1973
1969
1830: Construction of the first Russian fortifications in Gagra
From the XIII to BC: as part of Colchis
The name of the area was first mentioned in the XIII century BC. e. in Assyrian and Urartian cuneiform writings such as "Kulha," "Kolha" and referred to a strong state education created by the Kolkha tribes living here.
640 BC: Scythians
IV thousand BC: Dolmen
Notes
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