In a statement published by Jam News on January 26, Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, expressed his disappointment at the denial of his request to visit [the separatist] Abkhazia, which was scheduled for the end of January 2024. This denial marked the second refusal of his visit to the region in the past six months.

Klaar emphasized that Abkhazia's relative openness should not suffer due to Russia's war against Ukraine. He stressed the importance of maintaining direct personal contacts to exchange views and discuss recent developments, emphasizing the need for more engagement rather than less.

The Special Representative highlighted the increasing restrictions placed on the work of international organizations, including the EU, UN agencies, NGOs, and local civil society groups in recent years. Despite these challenges, the EU has played a pivotal role in facilitating dialogue and conflict resolution efforts in the South Caucasus and fostering engagement between Tbilisi and the de facto authorities in Sokhumi.

Klaar outlined the EU's longstanding support for humanitarian programs in Abkhazia, spanning education, small business support, and healthcare. He underscored the detrimental impact of closing space for international engagement, which would exacerbate existing challenges in the region.

Expressing concern over Abkhazia's apparent closure, Klaar emphasized the importance of overcoming restrictions and maintaining open communication channels. He highlighted that such developments are not in the interest of Abkhazia's population or the broader region.

The statement also referenced tensions between the de facto authorities of Abkhazia and international actors, particularly the US Agency for International Development (USAID), over the past year.