The arrest follows Moscow?s recent decision to halt the issuance of Russian passports to residents of Abkhazia through the representations located inside the occupied territory, a decision made after a number of Abkhaz lawmakers questioned the policy. On February 4, Bzhinava, too, criticized the policy on Facebook, writing that the practice of swearing allegiance to Russia ?is categorically unacceptable? for an ?independent state.?

?This is the very sharing of our sovereignty that Aslan Bzhania declared. Abkhazia is not a subject of the Russian Federation, but an independent state!? he added.

The Abkhaz opposition organization Aidgylara, which is headed by Kan Kvarchia, who was previously declared wanted by Russia, issued a statement indicating that the detention may be related to Bzhinava?s position on issues of ?public concern,? including ?the issue of illegal passportization in the Republic of Abkhazia.?

On February 8, the de facto foreign ministry of Russia-occupied Abkhazia reported that it is monitoring Irakli Bzhinava?s detention and ?taking all necessary steps to clarify the details of the incident, coordinating with the Russian authorities.?

Moscow simplified the procedure for granting Russian citizenship to residents of the occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/ South Ossetia in 2025, including allowing residents of the occupied regions to submit citizenship applications at Russian “diplomatic missions” located in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali. Those already residing in Russia would be able to apply at a local office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

On February 4, the occupied region?s so-called ?parliament? held a closed session of its Defense and National Security Committee, attended by the de facto government officials. After the meeting, participants said they had an “exchange of views” over the issuance of Russian passports and driver?s licenses.

On February 6, Russia?s so-called ?ambassador? to the occupied region, Mikhail Shurgalin, announced that the Russian Interior Ministry would withdraw its staff from Abkhazia and ?cease issuing documents on the territory of the republic.? He reportedly cited, among others, the questioning ?the legality of the presence of specialists from the Migration Service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Abkhazia? by a number of Abkhaz lawmakers during the February 4 session, who, according to Shurgalin, ?presented this as interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.?

Local media also cited data from the Russian ?embassy? that, currently, approximately 190,000 residents of Abkhazia have Russian citizenship, though most of them do not have ?internal Russian passports,? which limits access to public services and social benefits. Following the withdrawal of the staff, it will only be possible to obtain a passport on Russian territory.

This post is also available in: ქართული