INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
In its routine update of the foreign representatives pc registry on Friday, Russias Justice Ministry included two journalists from Abkhazia,
the Georgian breakaway area just recently rocked by protests versus a controversial financial investment deal with Moscow.Izida Chania, the
chief editor of Abkhazias earliest independent news outlet Nuzhnaya Gazeta, and Nizfa Arshba, the chief editor of the regional news agency
Aishara, were accused of spreading out incorrect info about choices and policies made by Russian authorities.Earlier this month, the founder
of independent news outlet Chegemskaya Pravda, Inal Khashig, was also declared a foreign representative by Russia, ending up being the first
Abkhaz reporter on the list.Since presenting the pc registry in 2012, the Kremlin has actually utilized the foreign agent label as a tool in
its project against civil society, hitting numerous cultural figures, reporters and businesspeople, along with news outlets and
organizations, with the designation.Individuals and companies branded foreign agents must submit monetary reports and include a prolonged
disclaimer on all released content with failure to comply punishable by criminal charges.Regional experts and local observers state that by
placing Abkhaz reporters on the list, the Kremlin seeks to tighten its grip on Abkhazia, including by enhancing the position of its recently
chosen Russia-backed President Badra Gunba.Following the November crisis in Abkhazia, Moscow has taken a much harder position on Abkhaz
political leaders, local activists and reporters, said Olesya Vartanyan, an expert on security and conflicts in the South Caucasus.In
November, mass protestsbroke out in Abkhazias capital Sokhumiagainst a controversial deal with Moscow that would use different advantages to
Russian investors in Abkhazia, consisting of an eight-year tax and custom-mades responsibility exemption.The protests activated the
resignation of Moscow-backed President Aslan Bzhania
Despite the oppositions finest hopes, Kremlin-aligned Gunba won the governmental seat in the run-off
Some [civil society and opposition figures] were removed of their Russian passports, efficiently trapping them inside this area, which is
not recognized by most of the world
Others were put on Russias list of foreign agents to alienate them from the local population, Vartanyan told The Moscow Times.These and
other procedures have been implemented to suppress routine regional resistance against Russian efforts, which frequently result in
demonstrations and have actually led to the overthrow of the last three local leaders, she added.Russia has been waging its passportization
policy in Abkhazia because at least 2002
20 years later, around 60% of the regions citizens held double Russian-Abkhazian citizenship, according to statistics mentioned by local
news outlet JAM News.With Abkhazias self-reliance recognized by only 5 UN member states Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, Tuvalu and Venezuela a
Russian passport is regularly a vital tool allowing international movement for Abkhazians than an expression of loyalty to the
Kremlin.Foreign agent journalist Nizfa Arshba is a rare exception, as she just holds an Abkhaz passport.Im not a person of the Russian
And Abkhazia is not Russia, Arshba said in a video statement Friday.Many independent Abkhaz observersbelieve that the list of potential
foreign representatives was most likely supplied to Moscow by the loyal authorities in Sokhumi who are trying to remove any possible
opposition.Despite duplicated calls from numerous civil societymembers and the recently declared foreign representative Inal Khashig
himself, Abkhazias government has yet to issue a main declaration on the recent designations.Prominent Abkhaz legal representative Said
Gezerdava explained this as an outsourcing of repressions.It is clear that this is retaliation for investigative and important journalism
and publications about the [current] elections, Gezerdava said in a viewpoint piece released by regional news outlet Okno.Why are Abkhaz
journalists discussing the Abkhaz authorities and their failed foreign policy being recognized as foreign representatives in a nearby
country? It is hard to believe that this is truly required [to anyone] outside Abkhazia, he added.We are going back to the black pages of
Abkhazian history, when, in the name of power, money and other things, some fellow people dedicate treason against others
When we get used to these repressionsmore severe ones will follow, warned the lawyer.A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are
dealing with unprecedented challenges
Russias Prosecutor Generals Office has designated The Moscow Times as an undesirable organization, criminalizing our work and putting our
staff at threat of prosecution
This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a foreign representative
These actions are direct efforts to silence independent journalism in Russia
The authorities claim our work discredits the choices of the Russian leadership
We see things in a different way: we aim to supply precise, impartial reporting on Russia.We, the reporters of The Moscow Times, refuse to
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