Abkhaz El Dorado

Sukhumi was very active in April. President Bagapsh visited Turkey. Israeli businessmen close to the Israeli government visited Sukhumi. Before that, a representative German delegation, which included even ministers of some German lands, arrived in Abkhazia. Some experts said after the visits that Sukhumi had started cutting a window to another, non-Russian world.

The forecast is quite optimistic. In order to have it come true, several factors must coincide.

It is first and foremost important what position that "other" world will hold. The West should realize that its rigid position of non-acceptance of Abkhazia, which is prompted by its hostile attitude towards the Kremlin rather than sympathy towards Georgia, is absolutely senseless and unjustified even from the extremely Russophobic point of view.

About 10 years ago, Russia was as far removed from Abkhazia as the United States and Europe. Some people have probably forgotten that Russia strangled Abkhazia as if it were its deadly enemy. The blockade the Kremlin imposed on Abkhazia was like the one imposed by Israel on Palestine. The road to the Russian bank of the Psou river was closed for males from 16 to 60. A small sheet of paper was sufficient for the list of products, which could be imported into or exported from the republic.

However, Putin replaced Yeltsin and the constant stick policy was replaced by the carrot policy. As a result, Abkhazia became gradually integrated in the Russian space politically, economically, socially, and culturally.

What was the West doing at that time? To spite Russia, it did not even notice Abkhazia. The West seems to have realized recently that it is stupid to walk just because you are angry with the driver. However, realizing this is one thing, while concrete actions are another. Given the fact that there are different opinions within the European Union and the American elite is excessively stubborn, we will have to put up with inactivity in the West for quite some time to come.

The second factor necessary to cut a window to the "other" world is Russia. Moscow will without fail be jealous of any contacts between Abkhazia and the West. However, it cannot be said that Moscow does not want such contacts at all. Had this been so, no Israelis or Germans would have been able to step on Abkhaz soil. At the same time, it should be born in mind that the foreign guests came to Abkhazia precisely via Moscow.

However, it is also clear that the Kremlin does not need at all to let the process take its course. To allow other people to enter the orchard it has attended to and taken care of means receiving unnecessary headache, particularly at the time when everything is going on in an excellent manner in this "orchard". For example, president Bagapsh said in his interview to a Russian newspaper just recently that Moscow is Abkhazia's capital. The Kremlin will not allow losing such a paradise.

And the third factor that is indispensable for Abkhazia to establish ties with the West is Abkhazia itself. It is the will and reason of the Abkhaz people that will become the foundation for relations with the rest of the world in the long run. Rhetoric and nice words about multi-vector foreign policy, the need for Western investments, and democracy are one thing and concrete deeds another.

It is effectively difficult to do business in Abkhazia. Let us imagine a situation, where a German company wants to implement an investment project in Abkhazia. Let us also imagine that the Kremlin has silently agreed to this.

And here are Germans arriving in Sukhumi. They meet the president, vice president, prime minister, parliament speaker... In short, all necessary officials. At these friendly meetings, they will receive verbal guarantees and all necessary documents will be signed. They will go back to Germany and bring money. And it is here that reality begins: hints, which will smoothly develop into demands for shares, kickbacks, and bribes and threats. If the Germans fail to understand this in offices, they will receive explanations in the streets. Even the president will be unable to do anything in that case, as private interest has become almost a constitutional norm in Abkhazia. That is how the system is organized and no one wants to destroy it, not because they are dishonest, but because they simply do not know how it should be otherwise organized.

Several dozens of Russian businessmen participated in an economic forum held in Bichvinta four years ago. President Bagapsh and members of Abkhaz government spoke at the forum. They spoke about privileges for foreign investors, low taxes, cheap workforce, very cheap electricity, and the government's desire to help investors, because "this country is in urgent need of investors". During the break, one of the Russian participants in the forum took a place at the table together with me and a Russian businessman, who had tried in vain to become established in the Abkhaz market for two years. This was the former's first visit to Abkhazia and the local nature and sweet sounds had had their effect on him. The new businessman was enthusiastic and was making plans for the future. He thought that he had found his El Dorado. "One thing I would like to tell you is that you should not think there are gudgeons here", the other businessman warned him.

I met that excited businessman several times later. Someone seemed to have brought him in to land. I did not even ask him, how his business was doing in Abkhazia, because I already knew how a business could be doing here.

The terminology used in the article belongs to the author and not “Liberali”.

The article is prepared with support of Heinrich Boell Foundation. The publication statements and ideas do not necessarily express the Heinrich Boell Foundation opinion.