Sergei Bagapsh, it seems, has been granted a loan.
Yesterday Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh, met at Putin's Sochi residence Riviera, where the President of Abkhazia said he was offered a loan of no less than one billion roubles. Kommersant's special correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov was surprised that the President of Abkhazia does not consider this a significant sum of money for either himself or Vladimir Putin.
Mr Bagapsh arrived at Vladimir Putin's residence earlier than expected, though the latter was clearly well rested after his tour of the Far East. When they met, both men seemed similarly refreshed, and it would have been possible to surmise that Mr Bagapsh had also just flown in from Japan and Mongolia.
Almost the whole conversation was held in private, but afterwards, Sergei Bagapsh told the press exactly what he discussed with Vladimir Putin.
The Abkhaz President was most concerned with the fate of the loan he had requested for his modestly sized but proud republic. And there is no doubting its size or their pride, for after all, this is the first time Abkhazia has asked Russia for a loan.
"It's not a large sum of money for us," Sergei Bagapsh said, "nor is it for Russia..."
It was very interesting to learn what sums of money Sergei Bagapsh thinks are trifling for both Abkhazia and Russia, which is exactly what became clear. In fact, only at first glance would it seem appropriate for him to list the parties in the opposite order, saying "for Russia and for Abkhazia too." The President of this young republic could not have put it any other way, and the President's words will only increase his people's respect for him. After all, Abkhazia asked Russia for money and not the other way round.
Sergei Bagapsh plans to use the loans to develop the Republic's banking sector.
"So they will be long-term loans," he said.
Abkhazia, which is setting up its border with Georgia in addition to its banking system, is even more deserving of the sense of pride felt by its own citizens and Russians alike. Russians will monitor these long-term Abkhaz loans with trepidation and hope, much as they will observe the long-term realignment of their own country's banking system.
Incidentally, Mr Bagapsh is also concerned about establishing border posts along the border with Georgia.
"Russian border guards will be positioned alongside ours on the Georgian border," the President of Abkhazia explained, "this process will be completed by June."
Which means that Mr Bagapsh is counting on borrowing border guards as well as money from Russia.
I asked the President of Abkhazia whether his country was paying attention to the NATO military exercises being held in Georgia.
"We are carrying out our own military training exercises," Sergei Bagapsh said "but we also know who is doing what there."
"Does this information come from your intelligence service?" I asked
"Our intelligence service is working, as are other people's," said Mr Bagapsh. In other words, the Abkhaz President seems to have had in mind the same place where he got his loans.
"So how are the training exercises going?" I asked.
"They are under way," Sergei Bagapsh answered curtly.
It was clear what he had in mind: "And like everything else on this earth, they will pass. Everything passes, even these exercises."
"We are all tired of these shows that Georgia is putting on," he said, ending that line of conversation, and that was the moment I wanted to say to him, "I can believe you."
In conclusion, Sergei Bagapsh told us that he had invited the Russian Prime Minister to visit Abkhazia, that his invitation had been gratefully accepted, and that all that remained to work out was the date.
Logically, the day Vladimir Putin visits Abkhazia should be just as important an event for that country as for Russia.
And in conclusion, I asked the President of Abkhazia whether the Russian Prime Minister had agreed to grant the loan.
"I hope I got it," he said, after some hesitation.
And after that subsequent hesitation he added, as if he had now convinced himself and was no longer hesitant: "Yes! I got it!"