The News in Brief

Abkhazia's De Facto President Says International Recognition 'Inevitable,' Claims Outreach Underway

Badra Gunba, the de facto President of Georgia's Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, said the region will "sooner or later" achieve full international recognition and become a member of the United Nations, claiming outreach is underway with countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and several Asian and African states.

Speaking in an interview with Russian state news agency TASS published on May 15, following his visit to Moscow for Victory Day events, Gunba said work to expand recognition was ongoing but uneven. "In some cases, it progresses faster, while in others we would like this movement to be faster and more effective," he said. He attributed the slow progress to Western pressure on potential recognizing states. "Countries that are ready to fully support our republic are under certain pressure from Western countries that are trying in every possible way to impose their agenda," he said.

"I am confident that sooner or later we will reach the point where Abkhazia will be fully recognized, and our country will be one of the representatives in the UN. This is inevitable, no matter who resists it," Gunba said.

Currently, only five countries recognize Georgia's Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia as independent states: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, and Syria. Syria, the most recent to establish diplomatic ties with Abkhazia in 2018, has faced calls from Georgian and international actors to withdraw its recognition following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.



Two Georgians Detained by Russian Occupation Forces Near Tsitelubani Released

Two Georgian citizens illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Tsitelubani in Gori Municipality on May 15 have been released and returned to Tbilisi-controlled territory, the State Security Service of Georgia announced on May 18.

The agency reported that all available instruments were used to secure their release, including the hotline operated by the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. In line with recent practice, the SSSG did not disclose the individuals' names or release photos, and the statement about their detention was issued only after their release. Unlike a previous case in April, however, this statement did specify the location of detention.

The SSSG said it "continues active work to secure the release of all Georgian citizens who are illegally imprisoned in occupied territories."