Foreign relations of Abkhazia

The Republic of Abkhazia (Abkhazia) is a self-proclaimed state that declared soon after a catastrophic war as residual effect of Soviet Union dissolution in early 1990s, well known as Abkhazian War 1992–1993 between Abkhazian and Georgian. As the new born countries, Abkhazia struggle to gain international community recognition, but no one countries has been recognizing Abkhazia as an independent state after this war. Firstly, Transnistria (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) recognizing each other with Abkhazia on 22 January 1993. This is the first step to Abkhazia for looking forward recognition. After a decades, on 20 September 2005, the second countries was recognizing each other with Abkhazia is South Ossetia (today known as the State of Alania). Third, Nagorno-Karabakh (today known as the Artsakh Republic) also follows two other countries to recognizing Abkhazia on 14 November 2006.
The new war was begun after Georgian invasion in early 2008 (2008 South Ossetia war). After this worsened war, international community was looking further more to Abkhazia and South Ossetia as the victims of this war. Finally, international community that belongs as the UN member states, starting to recognizing Abkhazia (and also South Ossetia) independence. Third countries (the first United Nations Members) is Russia (Russian Federation) on 26 August 2008 after Dmitry Medvedev announced Russia became the first UN members state that recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence. Since this moment, another UN member states starting to recognize both countries, respectively by Nicaragua on 5 September 2008 with Daniel Ortega Presidential Decrees, Venezuela on 10 September 2009 by official statement and Treaty Abkhazia with Venezuela under Hugo Chávez, Nauru on 15 December 2009 by signing Agreement between Minister Kieren Keke and Minister Sergei Shamba, and Syria on 31 May 2018 under leadership of Raul Khajimba and Bashar al-Assad. However, respectively in 2013 and 2014, two UN member states was revoking the diplomatic relationship with Abkhazia, are Vanuatu (relations between 2011 until 2013) and Tuvalu (relations between 2011 until 2014).
The most important approach that used by the Abkhazian government is to gaining further international recognition from a greater part of the international community. So far, the majority recognize Abkhazia as an integral part of Georgia. Until early 2021, there were various informal contacts hold by many countries with Abkhazia, like Italy (2011), San Marino (2011), Donetsk People's Republic (in 2015 recognising Abkhazia), Luhansk People's Republic (in 2015 recognising Abkhazia), Palestine Authorities (2008), Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (2008), Belarus (2008, 2009, 2020), Eritrea (2014), El Salvador (2019), North Korea (2017, 2018), Pakistan (2021), Jordan (2018, 2019), and Iran (2021).
Unofficial relations with UN member states.
Even though Abkhazia has not been recognized by many states, it has unofficial relations with several UN member states. It engages often unofficially with states. Often, the Circassian diaspora is used as a mean to establish links to states of the Middle East.
Belarus.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister of Abkhazia, Kan Taniya, the Abkhaz relations to Belarus are high on the priority list of Abkhazia. In 1995, Belarus was opposed to the CIS sanctions against Abkhazia. Bilateral relations between Belarus and Georgia were strained during the Georgian Presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili, during which Abkhazia was recognised by Russia. In March 2009, President Lukashenko referred to Abkhaz president Sergey Bagapsh as "the President of Abkhazia" in an official statement when the two met Moscow. The two discussed economic cooperation, with Lukashenko stating "much work emerges after gaining independence, we would be happy if Belarus' involvement could help to solve problems in this region." In November 2009, Belarusian lawmakers visited Tbilisi, Sukhumi, and Tskhinvali on simultaneous fact-finding missions to inform a decision on whether to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Despite these actions and Russian pressure, Belarus never recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Bilateral relations between Belarus and Georgia improved over the same period, and in April 2015 – during the Georgian Presidency of Giorgi Margvelashvili – Lukashenko paid his first official visit to Georgia, during which he explicitly noted his support of Georgia's territorial integrity. Since then, Georgia buys Belarus tractors "and other equipment that we would not otherwise buy", according to Georgian economist Paata Sheshelidze.
Eritrea.
In June 2014, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Eritrea in the Russian Federation Teklay Minassie Asgedom and Head of the Department of Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea Kalekristos Zariseney Gebreyezus met with a delegation from Abkhazia.
Israel.
In 2004, Abkhazia asked Israel to recognize the country. Six years later, mutual visits became more frequent. In 2011, a delegation of the Israeli security firm Global CST visited Abkhazia. Representatives of Global CST declared their readiness to provide non-offensive military technologies, security equipment, and medicine, as well as invest into the agricultural sector, tourism, and mining. In 2017, Abkhaz foreign minister Daur Kove visited Israel and participated in an international round table "Status of the unrecognized states and their relations with Israel" which took place in Tel Aviv University on 8 November 2017. During his trip, Kove held a number of working meetings including with Alon Davidi, the Mayor of Sderot and with Alexander Shane, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Israel.
North Korea.
In December 2017, the North Korean Chamber of Commerce contacted then-Abkhaz prime minister Gennadi Gagulia. Subsequently, an Abkhaz delegation visited Pyongyang (August 2018) and a North Korean delegation visited Sukhumi (November 2018). According to the Director of International Relations at the Chamber of Commerce of North Korea, companies of the construction business, the food and textile industry, logistics companies are interested in working with Abkhazia. Additionally, North Korean workers could be sent to the Black Sea country. In 2019, about 400 North Korean workers settled in Abkhazia.
Turkey.
The most cordial of the Abkhaz relations with UN member states without official diplomatic recognition are with Turkey. Turkey does not follow the Georgian embargo rules and the country hosts a large Abkhaz diaspora.
United States.
In 2008, the United States government of George W. Bush informally tried to establish contacts with the Abkhaz government.
Visa Problems.
Several states which do not recognise Abkhazia routinely refuse visa applications of Abkhazians, even though the application is made in Moscow on the basis of the person's dual Russian citizenship.
Relations with other self-declared independent states.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus welcomed Russian recognition of Abkhazia. The militant Palestinian organization Hamas also welcomed the recognition of both Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In 2007, members of the parliaments and civil society organizations from Northern Cyprus and Western Sahara observed the Abkhazian parliamentary election.
Membership in international organizations.
Abkhazia belongs to the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and Community for Democracy and Human Rights.
International economic relations.
The National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia has maintained its baseline interest rate for 11 years. Debt is negligible, external liabilities are just 5.6 per cent of GDP, and Abkhazia has never reported a balance of payments deficit.