On 22 December 2014, Abkhazia ratified the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Russia The agreement was negotiated against a background of dissent from a significant part of the self-proclaimed republic’s population, and of continuous government pressure on activists and bloggers who opposed the ratification of the agreement.
Abkhazia is de jure part of the Republic of Georgia, but has functioned as an independent state since 1992. The region has fought one major war and several bloody skirmishes with Tbilisi’s forces over the last 23 years. Russia moved to recognise Abkhazia as an independent state following its own war with Georgia in 2008, and acts as a key source of diplomatic and financial support to the region.
The partnership
The Strategic Partnership Agreement calls for the ‘coordination of foreign policy’ and ‘creation of a common defence and security space.’ It also provides for ‘the creation of conditions for the participation of Abkhazia in integration processes on the post-Soviet space, realised at the initiative of and (or) with the co-operation of the Russian Federation’ and ‘the creation of a united force of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia.’Revolution and ratification In order to avoid protests and opposition rallies, prior to ratifying the agreement, the Abkhazian authorities presented the document for public hearings.
