Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Badra Gunba, the de facto leader of Abkhazia, on the so-called Victory and Independence Day.
“Dear Badra Zurabovich, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on Victory and Independence Day. This glorious holiday symbolizes the resilience, courage, and solidarity of the people of Abkhazia, who defended their legitimate right to a free and peaceful life. Russian-Abkhaz relations are friendly and allied in nature,” reads the telegram published on the Kremlin website.
Putin noted that relations between Moscow and Sukhumi are of an allied nature and expressed confidence that they will continue to strengthen “for the benefit of our peoples, in the interests of ensuring regional stability and security.”
“Russia will continue to provide active assistance to our Abkhaz partners in resolving key tasks of state-building and socio-economic development,” the Russian president added.
Notably, on September 30, 1993, following the fall of Sukhumi, Abkhaz armed formations and affiliated forces seized control of the autonomous republic’s entire territory. Approximately 250,000 ethnic Georgians were forced to flee, with many escaping the region on foot across mountain passes.