Prime Minister Vladimir Putin paid his last respects to the deceased Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh.
The prime minister arrived in Abkhazia to attend the late leader's funeral.
The people of Abkhazia, who loved Bagapsh, turned out en masse to pay their last respects. Bagapsh virtually became a national hero after his death.
Bagapsh won his first presidential election with a scandal. His opponent, Raul Khadzhimba, who was openly supported by Russia accused Bagapsh of rigging the election and demanded a new nationwide vote. During the second presidential election, Bagapsh easily defeated four rivals, including Khadzhimba.
The people of Abkhazia mourned Bagapsh like a close relative. Bagapsh's body was brought to Abkhazia from Moscow and placed in his Sukhumi flat for two days. Hundreds of people brought flowers to the flat without waiting for the official funeral ceremony at the local Philharmonic. About 50% of the republic's population, including residents of the remotest districts on the Georgian border, paid their last respects to Bagapsh during the public ceremony.
"I have come from the Gali District. I would like to pay my last respects to Sergei Bagapsh on behalf of my mother and myself. My mother would also come if she could walk," a 12-year-old boy told the paper.
Thousands of people filed past Bagapsh's bier to the sounds of funeral music, braving a storm and torrential rains. The leaders of the Caucasus republics, the President of the self-proclaimed Transnistria Republic and Russian officials carried the wreaths. All those who came to say farewell to the president of Abkhazia waited for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The funeral of any high-ranking official is also a social event.
Putin attended the funeral ceremony for only a minute. He was accompanied by Minister of Regional Development, Viktor Basargin, Head of the Presidential Executive Office, Sergei Naryshkin and Krasnodar Territory Governor Alexander Tkachyov. Everyone present rose in silence to greet Putin who placed a bouquet of scarlet roses at Bagapsh's bier and expressed condolences to his widow Marina Shonia and his children Zurab and Liana.
Abkhazian citizens viewed this gesture as an open display of Moscow's special attitude towards the republic. This is hardly surprising. The Foreign Ministry which does not play the lead role in Russian-Abkhazian relations provides all-out diplomatic support for a country recognised by Russia and just a handful of small states. The Ministry of Regional Development is Abkhazia's main provider channeling multi-billion rouble subsidies into the republic. Russian allocations make up two-thirds of the republic's budget. Abkhazia also maintains special relations with the Krasnodar territorial government. Moreover, Russia actively includes Abkhazia in construction projects for the Olympic facilities in Sochi.
Putin who did not attend Bagapsh's funeral in his home village of Dzhgerda met with Abkhazian Vice President Alexander Ankvab who will head the republic pending presidential elections and Prime Minister Sergei Shamba. Both men are the main presidential candidates who will run for office in three months. It appears that virtually all Abkhazian politicians are pro-Russian. Consequently, both countries will continue to steer towards a closer relationship. But the extent of such integration remains unclear.
Abkhazia which receives financial and political support from Russia strives to preserve its independence, no matter what. For instance, Russian citizens are not allowed to buy real estate in the republic. Long-term lease contracts, including 49-year contracts for the military and 24-year contracts for the business community, are the only option for acquiring local property. Russian investors also have many misgivings about doing business in Abkhazia.
Putin promised during both meetings to help Abkhazia stand firmly on its own two feet and assured his partners that Russia was the republic's closest ally and loyal friend.
"Life is life. It goes on," Putin remarked philosophically, while shaking Shamba's hand. "We implement joint plans to rebuild Abkhazia and to facilitate socio-economic reconstruction. It is our common duty to continue this work, everything we started in the last few years. I am confident that we will accomplish this," Putin added.
Putin did not stop there and virtually promised to support Abkhazia on complicated foreign policy issues. This implies more than the country's recognition by the international community.
"We will facilitate your expanded international contacts with all states, including your nearest neighbours. Time can heal all wounds. Hopefully, all relations between the Abkhazian and Georgian nations will be restored," Putin said.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also talked money. Abkhazia is to receive over ten billion roubles' worth of federal allocations in the next three years under a comprehensive plan to facilitate the republic's socio-economic development. This sum equals three republic budgets. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin indicated that Russian partners are ready to implement all current plans and to assist in other large-scale projects.
Shamba promptly told Putin about his short-term investment plans, including construction of a new railway and an alpine-ski resort. He said Vnesheconombank is already interested in all these projects. The implementation of these plans will make Abkhazia quite popular with Russian investors. So, subsidies will not be the only source of the republic's well-being.
Anastasia Savinykh
