Abkhazia Stops Issuing Russian Passports

Russian passport and driver's license issuance offices in the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia are being suspended. The decision was made by the Russian Embassy in Sukhumi following statements from Abkhaz parliamentarians questioning the legality of these offices.

Moscow emphasizes its respect for Abkhazia's sovereignty and announces that the issuance of documents will be transferred to Russia. The offices were opened in January 2026, and driver's license offices have been operating since 2025.

On February 4, at a closed meeting of the Abkhazia Defense and National Security Committee, deputies expressed bewilderment over the issuance of passports and driver's licenses from another country, calling on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to close the offices, although the parliamentary press service stated that no decisions had been made.

Most residents of Abkhazia hold dual citizenship. It is noted that in 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin simplified the process of obtaining Russian citizenship and issuing passports/licenses to citizens of Abkhazia until 2028 and 2026, respectively.

Последние новости
Pashinyan Warns of the “Beginning of the End” for the EAEU
Politics
Pashinyan Warns of the “Beginning of the End” for the EAEU
29 July 2026

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned that Russia’s restrictions on Armenian exports are calling into question the future of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), saying the dispute could mark “the beginning of the end” for the Moscow-led bloc if it is not resolved soon.
Nauru becomes the third country to withdraw recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Politics
Nauru becomes the third country to withdraw recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
29 July 2026

The Pacific island nation of Nauru has severed diplomatic relations with the self-proclaimed entities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, effectively revoking its earlier recognition of their "independence." The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced the move.
Imam in Georgia Beaten After Speaking Turkish
Society
Imam in Georgia Beaten After Speaking Turkish
29 July 2026

An attack on the family of a Meskhetian Muslim in the southern Georgian town of Akhaltsikhe has raised questions about the police response. The victims say more than ten men assaulted the local mosque’s imam, Shevket Dvalidze, but only two suspects were detained and later released on bail. Human rights groups are calling for investigators to examine whether the attack was motivated by ethnic, linguistic and religious hatred.
Reporters Without Borders Calls Sentences Against Azerbaijani Journalists Politically Motivated
Human rights
Reporters Without Borders Calls Sentences Against Azerbaijani Journalists Politically Motivated
29 July 2026

The international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the sentences handed down to staff members of the Azerbaijani YouTube channel Toplum TV, describing them as further evidence of the persecution of independent journalists in the country.