Abkhazia Intercepts Georgian Drone in Latest Border Provocation
Drone intercepted by Abkhazia’s State Security Service (SGB) near the Abkhazian-Georgian border.
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― On 16 October 2024, Abkhazia’s State Security Service (SGB) reported the interception of a Georgian drone near the village of Bgoura in the Gal district, highlighting Georgia’s ongoing provocations along the Abkhazian-Georgian border. The drone, a Mavic 3 model, was being operated by David Katsarava, leader of the so-called "Anti-Occupation Movement," a group known for its hostile stance toward Abkhazia.
According to the SGB, the drone was conducting aerial surveillance of military installations, sparking serious concerns over its intended purpose. "The UAV was detected by patrol officers from the Abkhazian SGB and the Russian FSB Border Guard and was brought down using electronic warfare measures," the service reported. Katsarava, who later confirmed the loss of the drone, had previously employed such devices in his operations and quickly launched a fundraising campaign to replace it.
This incident has provoked strong reactions in Abkhazia, where officials fear that drones could be used for military purposes, such as artillery targeting or transporting explosives. The political council of the "People’s Front of Abkhazia" expressed deep concern, stating: “Given the current situation in the Special Military Operation zone, we view these incidents as provocations intended to destabilise the Abkhazian-Georgian border.” The party also criticised the inactivity of international monitoring missions, accusing them of applying double standards in addressing such provocations.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia also issued a statement condemning Georgia's actions as deliberate attempts to escalate tensions at the border, despite Tbilisi’s public declarations of peaceful intentions. Abkhazian officials plan to raise this incident during the Geneva Discussions scheduled for early November.
The drone interception is not an isolated event but part of a long-standing pattern of Georgian provocations. For over 30 years, Georgia has refused to sign a non-use of force agreement with Abkhazia, undermining regional stability and sowing mistrust. This refusal is especially troubling given Georgia’s past military actions against Abkhazia.
During the 1990s, guerilla units such as the “White Legion” and “Forest Brothers,” often comprised of Georgian Interior Ministry officers, terrorised the Gal region with acts of sabotage and violence. These activities culminated in the 1998 armed clashes, often referred to as the "little Georgia-Abkhazia war." Further provocations, including Georgia's incursions into the Kodor Gorge (1994 Moscow Accords which formally marked the ceasefire in the Georgian-Abkhazian war delimited a demilitarised zone. Despite this, Saakashvili decided in the spring of 2006 to introduce an armed force that he disingenuously described as a 'police-force' into the Kodor Valley ― Ed.), have only deepened the sense of mistrust.
In 2007, David Sigua, the Chairman of the Gal Electoral Commission, was abducted by Georgian Special Forces. Despite repeated appeals to the Georgian government and the European Union, his whereabouts remain unknown.
These ongoing provocations from Georgia highlight the urgent need for the international community to recognise the destabilising role that Tbilisi plays. Without meaningful peace talks and a halt to military actions, the security of Abkhazia and the stability of the wider Caucasus region remain under serious threat.