President Gunba calls for continued investment in Abkhazia’s villages

SUKHUM / AQW'A —  Funding for villages and rural residents in Abkhazia could exceed 2 billion roubles (US$24 million) in 2026, President Badra Gunba has told a meeting reviewing progress on rural development programmes.

Chairing the meeting at the Presidential Administration, Gunba said the designation of 2026 as the Year of the Village had helped focus attention on rural needs. He stressed that programmes must continue beyond the end of the year.

“A village is not simply a place where our citizens live. It is where our language, culture, identity and traditions are preserved,” he said.

More than 1.1 billion roubles (US$13.2 million) has been allocated to 86 measures covering infrastructure repairs, housing assistance, healthcare, education and cultural activities.

That figure excludes a further 500 million roubles (US$6 million) earmarked for agricultural support, alongside separate programmes for businesses, energy and other infrastructure.

Gunba acknowledged that the programmes did not yet reach every village and called for closer oversight of how public money was spent.

Deputy Prime Minister Jansukh Nanba said 92 villages had submitted applications under a scheme offering one million roubles (US$12,000) to each village, with a further 18 applications expected. The president instructed officials to speed up the process.

Officials have also completed visits to villages seeking support for agricultural projects. A commission is due to begin assessing and selecting applications.

Education Minister Khana Gunba outlined plans for a programme to improve rural schools. Hot school meals are due to be introduced from 1 October, although only 57 of 152 educational institutions are currently ready to participate. Pupils at other schools will initially receive food packs.

The president said rural schools should have access to comparable provision to those in towns and called for more school buses where needed.

Energy Minister Batal Mushba reported that around 45 kilometres of power lines had been replaced and 37 substations repaired in villages since the start of the year. Funding for this work is expected to rise from 145 million roubles (US$1.74 million) to 250 million roubles (US$3 million) by December.

Officials are also compiling profiles of each village, covering population, public services, economic conditions and development potential. The work is expected to be completed in November and will help guide future state support.

Closing the meeting, Gunba called for faster implementation and stronger financial oversight, saying the priority was to improve living conditions and create opportunities for employment and production in rural communities.