Abkhaz Separatist Leader Pushes for Elimination of Russia-Georgia Checkpoints

On June 7, Aslan Bzhania, the de facto leader of the Russian-occupied Abkhazia, stated that the occupied regions of Georgia and Moscow are working to simplify border control.

Bzhania, who participated in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, expressed hope that there will be no need for a checkpoint in the future. "I expect that we will reach a point in our relations where a checkpoint will no longer be necessary. The border will remain, but the checkpoint will eventually become redundant," Bzhania said.

He mentioned that the current checkpoint on the Russian side of the Psou River operates at full capacity during the summer months of July, August, and September. Additionally, Bzhania noted the decision to use the old bridge over the Psou River, which is currently under reconstruction. He believes this will facilitate easier border crossing between the Russian Federation and the occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia.

Separatist Abkhazia Debates Presidential Power to Dissolve Parliament

On June 7, parliamentary hearings on the draft constitutional law to amend the [de-facto] Constitution of [the separatist] Abkhazia "On Legislative and Executive Power" were held on the initiative of Speaker Lasha Ashuba and Chairman of the Committee on State and Legal Policy Daut Hutab.

The bill proposes amendments to the relationship between the executive and legislature and the redistribution of powers between them. The President of Abkhazia submitted it to the Parliament, considering some of the proposals from the commission on constitutional reform created in 2020.

"The draft constitutional law on an amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia provides for the abolition of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia - a collegial body formed by the President of the Republic of Abkhazia. Abolition of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia will entail the abolition of the posts of Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia and deputy prime ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia. It is proposed to supplement the Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia with norms establishing the order of appointment of ministers in coordination with the Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia," the Parliament reported.

The bill establishes the President's right to dissolve the Parliament and call new parliamentary elections if, after three rejections by the Parliament of the submitted ministerial candidates, more than one-third of the ministerial posts remain vacant. The bill also defines the procedure for setting the date of parliamentary elections.