Targeted Repression: The Foreign Agent Designation of Abkhazian Journalists, by Said Gezerdaa
It was only a matter of time before journalists Izida Chania and Nizfa Arshba were added to the list of foreign agents. It is clear that this move is a response to their investigative journalism and critical reporting, particularly regarding the alleged power grab through elections.
The designation of these journalists as foreign agents was preceded by a report on NTV, in which the reporter regurgitated a mix of falsehoods identical to those previously spread by the Amra-life [Telegram] channel. The inaccuracies were so blatant that the reporter even mispronounced the acronym of one of the UN agencies, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), which, incidentally, is partly funded by Russia. Meanwhile, the closure of the American agency USAID has not stopped it from being used as a bogeyman, perhaps because abandoning this rhetorical tool would undermine a myth that has been carefully crafted over time.
The specific allegations against the journalists once again revolve around their participation in the Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue, an initiative that has been ongoing for 30 years but was suddenly demonised by the State Security Service (SGB) and anonymous figures. But what about the real Georgian-Abkhaz interactions with far-reaching consequences? Take, for instance, the bustling cross-border trade with Georgia. Experts estimate that the shadow economy involving goods from Georgia accounts for between 3.1 billion and 4.16 billion roubles in Abkhazia’s domestic trade. And that is just one example of many forms of illicit economic cooperation. How, then, should we classify those engaged in these activities? If the standards being applied to journalists were applied consistently, would the same accusations not apply elsewhere?
Why are Abkhaz journalists, who report on Abkhazian authorities and their failed foreign policy, being labelled foreign agents by a neighbouring country? It is difficult to believe that this designation serves any real purpose outside Abkhazia.
The policy of external repression also serves to maintain the image of an untarnished, "clean" president, an image he actively cultivates, delivering only triumphant speeches. But this role appears entirely contrived. No previous Abkhazian president has ever been elected under such intense external administrative pressure and varied forms of propaganda, yet, he conspicuously distances himself from it. Official reports contain only headlines like "The President Meets," "The President Congratulates," "The President Opens", while remaining completely silent on the ongoing persecution of journalists. By refusing to comment, the head of state tacitly confirms that he represents only those who elected him, rather than the nation as a whole.
Izida Chania and Nizfa Arshba had been relentless in their scrutiny of Badra Gunba’s election campaign. Yet ironically, the most revealing exposure of that campaign came not from them, but from the campaign’s chief PR strategist himself. Sergey Tolmachev, a foreign political consultant, openly admitted, citing his Politburo 2.0 channel—that:
"A candidate who initially lagged behind in the polls first took the lead in the first round, then convincingly won the second round with a 14% margin."
The involvement of such "specialists" in the electoral process and their collaboration with government representatives have deepened divisions within Abkhazian society, creating new fractures, between ethnic communities, social classes, and political factions. Can an independent journalistic community afford to turn a blind eye to this?
+ Abkhazian Civil Society Calls for Foreign Minister's Resignation
+ Said Gezerdava: "This is a Public Threat Against the Abkhazian Society"
+ Union of Journalists of Abkhazia Responds to Russia’s ‘Foreign Agent’ Designation
+ Anas Kishmaria: Abkhaz Authorities Must Address Russian Sanctions
+ Abkhaz Journalist Inal Khashig Declared a ‘Foreign Agent’ by Russia
It is also no secret that information is being collected on journalists and others within Abkhazia itself, a task overseen by the SGB. The former Foreign Minister, Inal Ardzinba, played a visible role in this process, he was instrumental in compiling compromising materials, which are now being disseminated by foreign television networks and anonymous Telegram channels.
In reality, we are witnessing a return to some of the darkest chapters in history, where, in the pursuit of power, wealth, ranks, and other thirty pieces of silver, some citizens betray others. Once society becomes accustomed to these repressions, harsher ones will inevitably follow. Outsourcing repression is an act of monstrous cynicism. Silence and passive support for such policies can only be read as endorsement—a stance that signals disloyalty to one’s own country. And that, in turn, lays the groundwork for the complete loss of sovereignty and the erosion of freedom.
Said Gezerdaa is a lawyer at the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes, a civil society group based in the Sukhum.
This article was originally published in Russian on OKNO Telegram channel and translated into English by AbkhazWorld.