On February 22, 2024, the Center for Socio-Economic Studies hosted a round table “Russia and Abkhazia: security and development”, which was attended by the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhaniia, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Abkhazia Mikhail Shurgalin, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia Inal Ardzinba, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergei Shamba.

“Abkhazian experts understand the importance of finding tools to strengthen the country’s sovereignty in the economic and security fields,” noted Inal Ardzinba.

He emphasized that the Union State is an association that ensures equality of participants, whereas economics and security are the key foundations on which it is based.

“Alliance with Russia and the strategic course towards participation in such integration associations is our civilizational choice, reflected in the interstate agreement with Russia in 2014. Of course, such large-scale issues should go through broad public consultations and expert discussions in the future,” Ardzinba said.