With annexation of Crimea, will Abkhazia take a back seat?

In light of the Russian annexation of Crimea, the leaders of the separatist region of Abkhazia have become concerned. They think that as a holiday-making area and a strategically important military base, Abkhazia has become less important since Russia obtained Crimea.

Analysts believe that either from the point of attracting tourists or the functioning of the naval base, Moscow will be directing its financial resources to Crimea rather then to Abkhazia.

Independent Abkhazia completely depends on the Russian Federation. 70% of the 2014 Abkhazian budget is financed by the Russian Federation. Russia thought of increasing its naval presence in Abkhazia and planned to build a naval base in Ochamchire.

The situation has changed however. Russia annexed Crimea and this creates a serious headache for Russia. Taking care of the Crimean population and creating solid infrastructure for holiday-makers, build hotels, roads, water supply systems (Crimea is short of drinking water, and so far it has been receiving most of its drinking water from the Ukrainian mainland) is no easy task.

Russia’s Black Sea navy was stationed in Sevastopol (Crimea, Ukraine) for a limited period of time. Now this territory is under the Russian control, so certainly Russia will invest in this direction as well.

Moscow needs to support the Crimean population, create jobs, pay pensions, salaries, and allowances to around 1.5 million people. All this requires a serious amount of money. Under the current circumstances, of course, Russian officials will direct money into Crimea.

This does not mean that the Kremlin will give up Abkhazia. Any piece of land has its value. Abkhazia has strategic importance for monitoring the South Caucasus and the southern part of the Black Sea. It will continue its occupation of Abkhazia, maintaining the ground and naval forces there.

As for the tourist attraction, Russia will promote Crimea as a destination for Russian tourists. And if before Moscow was promoting Abkhazia now it will be inviting Russian holidaymakers in Crimea.

This has many in separatist Abkhazia worried.