Chechnya is among the Russian regions introducing a drone-piloting standard under the GTO physical fitness programme as part of the federal project Na Vysote! (“At Altitude!”). According to the Vedomosti newspaper, the initiative aims to “popularise” drone piloting among young people and train specialists for the unmanned aircraft industry. Russian officials have also openly acknowledged that the skills acquired could be used in the war against Ukraine.
The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia published a statement in connection with the decision of the Abkhaz authorities to transfer the state dacha in Pitsunda to Russia.
“The European Union fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. Any other decision, which is an attempt to transfer to Russia the lands of the occupied self-proclaimed region of Abkhazia, is illegal and invalid,” the message says. Earlier, the US State Department expressed a similar opinion, calling on Moscow to comply with the 2008 ceasefire agreement.
The day before, leaders of Georgian opposition parties called the actions of Moscow and Abkhazia an annexation. The Pitsunda state dacha complex is transferred to the Russian side with land plots and the sea area adjacent to the facility under a lease for 49 years at a cost of 1 ruble per year for each plot. The state dacha building itself is transferred into ownership.