On January 10, Sergei Shamba, the de-facto Secretary of the Security Council of separatist Abkhazia, summarized the year's results. "The main thing for any state and society, he emphasized, is to ensure security and fulfill social obligations," Sergei Shamba noted. 

According to him, this positive factor made allocating more funds for social needs possible. Significant finances in 2023 by the de-facto authorities of Abkhazia were also directed to defense. Shamba noted, "In 2023, there were investments in the construction of fortifications, increased funds for the supply of the army. Also, the production of drones began on a noticeable scale." "Significant on our scale funds are directed to the Ministry of Defense, to our defense capability. These are investments in the construction of fortifications. This is also an increase in funds for supplying the army. The production of drones has already begun on a noticeable scale, started in-house, and I can't tell you about many other things. But a significant increase in the budget of the Ministry of Defense. Given what is happening in the world right now, the world is being reshaped before our eyes. The situation in the world has become more alarming. We live in a strategically important region where the clash of great powers has always drawn our people into these events. And now, we may not be left out. Therefore, it is necessary to be ready, first of all, to protect our state and our society, which is being done at the moment," Shamba said.

Shamba noted that the temporary basing of Russian military vessels in Ochamchire will strengthen security in the country. "I consider it very important for us. We remember very well the situation after the war when we had to defend our country with our own forces. And then people were taken away from work, from family affairs and were sent to guard the borders by rotation, and what great losses there were. More than 100 peacekeepers alone were killed, and our citizens even more so. We have a strategic partnership agreement with the Russian Federation. We have a completely different situation in our country. We have a question about external security. And social issues have come to the forefront. And any increase in Russia's military presence strengthens our state. We remember how, after the war, we intercepted Turkish ships that were coming here with food. All this stopped after the border station in Ochamchire appeared. Therefore, it only strengthens our security," he emphasized.

According to Shamba, the situation inside the country has also improved - fewer crimes would cause resonance in society. "The situation is much calmer now. Of course, there are always people in society who have a gloomy outlook on life. But in general, I think this is a noticeable change," the de-facto Secretary of the Security Council noted.

Shamba called high unemployment among young people one of the main problems. "True, very many are not counted by statistics, they are in the gray zone. And yet, they somehow earn money. We see the number of cars on the streets, there is constant construction of housing. This shows that people's financial situation is improving. At the same time, we are saddened by the fact that many young people are not engaged in labor," Shamba emphasized.