Sergei Shamba, the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs of the occupied Abkhazia, has stated that there are no plans to establish a Russian naval base in Ochamchire. About a year ago, the so-called president of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, claimed that an agreement had been signed for a permanent base of the Russian fleet.
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"No military-naval base of the Russian Federation is planned in Ochamchire. There is a border post where patrol boats are stationed. We are prepared for any developments," said Shamba, who was appointed as the so-called Minister of Foreign Affairs two days ago.
In an interview with TASS, Shamba noted that the Black Sea is increasingly becoming a region of tension, with NATO ships appearing more frequently and American and NATO reconnaissance planes flying there. "We cannot help but be concerned about this. We are also worried about the ongoing military operations in the Black Sea," Shamba said.
He also commented on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia, noting that it is uncertain who will come to power. "If Saakashvili's supporters, the current opposition, come to power, we do not rule out some form of adventure on their part, but the result will be disastrous for them. No one wants to start a new war, which would mean new casualties. In any case, we do not need it," Shamba stated.
Sergey Shamba also denied the reports about the opening of a Russian base in the Ochamchire port in an interview with RIA Novosti. According to him, there is "multilateral interstate cooperation" between Russia and Abkhazia, with one of the most important aspects being security cooperation. "The 7th Russian military base is located in the republic, and Russian border troops play a crucial role in ensuring security in Abkhazia, especially given that Georgia refuses to sign a legally binding document on the non-use of force," the de facto foreign minister noted.
On October 5, 2023, the de facto president of the occupied region, Aslan Bzhania, told the Russian newspaper Izvestia that Russia and Abkhazia had signed an agreement for a permanent base of the Russian Federation's military and naval fleet in the Ochamchire region.
A few days ago, the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, said that initial work was underway at the Ochamchire base, which poses a serious problem not only for Georgia but for the entire Black Sea region. "This is a problem for the security of the entire Black Sea, and if we were in other conditions, if this government were truly patriotic and protective of national interests, we should have been at the NATO summit or some other meeting addressing Black Sea security. Our interest in the West today is not only about the Caucasus but also the Black Sea. This is both our trump card and our weakness if we do not respond," said the President.
