On 22 September, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed the decree to further support of the separatist regime in Abkhazia. This decree supports a Russian government proposal to sign an agreement between Russia and the separatist regime of Abkhazia on the allocation of funds for modernization of the Abkhazian armed forces. “Let’s support the Russian Government's proposal about signing the agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia on the allocation of funds for modernization of the armed forces of the Republic of Abkhazia,” read the decree.

Earlier, on 23 August, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu met with the de facto Defense Minister of Abkhazia Mirab Kishmaria were the parties signed the agreement on financing the modernization of Abkhazia’s armed forces. Shoigu highlighted that Abkhazia and Russia enjoy a common defense and security space. “We were the first to recognize the republic’s independence and we continue to offer it comprehensive help. The documents and agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 and, naturally, our military base, which we are strengthening and which is a guarantor of stability thanks to our joint efforts, are of great importance,” he said.

The agreement is a continuation of the Alliance and Strategic Partnership agreements signed between Russia and the separatist regime in Abkhazia in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, another agreement was signed between the two entities which allowed the development of a Russian base in Abkhazia along with motorized Abkhaz infantry battalions, and artillery and aviation groups. It also gave the Russian Defense Ministry command over the force in times of war. This agreement was heavily criticized by the Georgian government as a “provocative step” that promoted “the definitive annexation of the occupied regions of Georgia.”

Russia recognized breakaway Abkhazia’s ‘independence’ on 26 August 2008, in the wake of the five-day August war, which left 20% of Georgia occupied by Russia. On 27 August 2019, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov stated that the international recognition of Abkhazia as an independent state is irreversible, as the separatist territory was recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, and recently Syria. The media reported that Moscow already provided large-scale financial assistance for the development of the so-called Republic of Abkhazia. According to the reports, “the volume of the investment programme to support Abkhazia for 2017-2019 amounted to about six billion rubles ($93 million).”