The former governor of the Belgorod Oblast (region), Vyacheslav Gladkov, will soon be appointed as the so-called Russian ambassador to Abkhazia. This is reported by the RBC news outlet, citing an informed source close to the presidential administration. The information was also confirmed by two federal officials, one of whom added that Gladkov himself had wanted this specific appointment.
Several options for the former governor’s career path were considered. One of them was the position of Deputy Minister of Economic Development, but this option was ruled out, RBC’s sources said. Previously, the Vedomosti newspaper wrote about the possibility of Gladkov being appointed to Minek (Ministry of Economic Development) and as “ambassador” to Abkhazia. The publication’s source said this was a “working option.” RBC’s sources confirmed the likelihood of Gladkov’s appointment.
Since 2022, career diplomat Maksim Shurgalin has served as the so-called Russian ambassador in Sukhumi—making him the third head of the “diplomatic mission” since Moscow recognized the region’s independence in 2008. Semyon Grigoryev held the post the longest (from 2008 to 2018), while Aleksey Dvinyanin held the position from 2018 to 2022.
According to RBC’s sources, in Gladkov’s case, the key task of the presidential administration in Abkhazia is to maintain and improve positive attitudes toward Russia.