On June 6, Oleg Bartsits, Foreign Minister of the separatist republic of Abkhazia, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, stating that high-level engagement with Russia ensures conditions for Abkhazia’s sustainable development.

Bartsits emphasized that the strategic partnership with Russia is critical for maintaining shared security architecture and regional stability. He remarked, “Our cooperation demonstrates truly allied, partnership-based, and friendly relations between our countries and peoples.”

Lavrov noted that the strategic agenda between Russia and Abkhazia was shaped by two prior meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Abkhazian President Badra Gunba. He stressed that this agenda would be expanded and refined through the efforts of both countries’ foreign ministries. Lavrov added, “Today, we have an excellent opportunity to discuss bilateral plans and assignments, as well as how we will advance our efforts in the international arena, particularly in the South Caucasus region.”

De Facto Abkhazian Foreign Minister Calls Georgia’s Reunification Claims “Phantom Pains”
On June 8, Oleg Bartsits, Foreign Minister of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia, described Georgia’s aspirations to reclaim the separatist region as “phantom pains.”

Bartsits attributed the absence of a non-use-of-force agreement between Abkhazia and Georgia to persistent ambitions within Georgia’s leadership to reincorporate Abkhazia. He stated, “This is a consequence of the fact that the phantom pains of the Georgian leadership have not yet been eradicated. A significant part of the Georgian establishment still desires to return Abkhazia to Georgia. This is a utopia.”

He further noted that while some pragmatic Georgian political figures recognize that Abkhazia will not rejoin Georgia, they refrain from publicly expressing this view due to political sensitivities.