Abkhazia's Multi-level Integration into Russian Space: A Geographical Study of Non-political Interactions

Abstract

Abkhazia's territorial relations with Russia have strengthened over the last two decades. Today, Abkhazia is closely integrated with the southern part of Russia. Territorial integration has taken place at every level: commercial, political, legal, social, energy and financial. Regular contacts - daily life for Abkhazians and tourism for Russians - rely on multiple transport networks: road, rail, sea and recently air. This article provides a non-political geographical perspective on Russian-Abkhaz relations. It reveals the different dimensions of this integration, resulting from a combination of factors. In particular, the disruption of contacts with (the rest of) Georgia since 1993 following the territorial conflict, various border policies that led to a softening stance with Russia and a hardening one with (the rest of) Georgia, and the lack of recognition by Georgia, which limits trade through the Ingur/Enguri checkpoint. Regardless of whether this is a choice or a constraint, Russia is currently Abkhazia's only real foreign partner.