Separate part of Georgia
Russia wants to station its navy in Abkhazia
October 5, 2023, 11:46 a.m
After increased Ukrainian attacks, Russia is said to have withdrawn part of its fleet from Crimea. Moscow and the Republic of Abkhazia, which split off from Georgia, have now agreed that Russia can build a naval base there. This is intended to strengthen the defense capacity of both partners.
According to the Georgian Republic, Russia wants to station part of its Black Sea fleet in the Republic of Abkhazia, which has split off from Georgia. “We have signed an agreement and in the near future there will be a permanent base of the Russian Navy in the Ochamchira district,” the Russian newspaper “Izvestia” quoted Abkhaz President Aslan Bzhania as saying.
This is intended to strengthen the defense capacity of both partners. This type of cooperation will “continue because it protects the fundamental interests of both Abkhazia and Russia,” said Bshanya. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not comment on the issue at a meeting with Bschania. After the war in 2008, Russia recognized the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. However, this view is not shared by most countries in the world. Abkhazia borders both Russia and the Black Sea.
It is less than 150 kilometers from Otschamchira on the coast of Abkhazia to the Black Sea shore of NATO member Turkey. By stationing ships in Otschamchira, where the Soviet Union already had a naval base, Russia could relieve its fleet, which is under pressure in Crimea.
The headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol on the Russian-annexed Ukrainian peninsula had recently been repeatedly attacked by Ukraine. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Russia has already withdrawn a large number of its ships from Crimea.