Latest news with #Abkhazia
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia detains airport worker plotting sabotage for Ukraine – FSB (VIDEO)
A Russian citizen working at the international airport in Sukhumi, the capital of the Republic of Abkhazia, has been detained on suspicion of cooperating with Ukrainian military intelligence and preparing an act of sabotage, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Tuesday. According to the FSB, the 45-year-old suspect was employed as a specialist in the airport's engineering and technical service. He allegedly maintained contact with a representative of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) and passed on work-related information. The man was arrested in cooperation with Abkhazia's state security service. The agency said the suspected was preparing to hand over schematics of the facility to Ukrainian intelligence services in order to facilitate a potential sabotage attack. 'The individual proactively planned to transfer layout diagrams of the Sukhumi international airport and its adjacent restricted-access parking area – used to receive official international delegations – to the adversary,' the agency said. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence and said he had already carried out several assignments. He also admitted to gathering intelligence on visits to Abkhazia by senior Russian officials. 'In March 2025, an unknown person contacted me via Telegram,' the suspect said in a video released by the FSB. 'He said he had found me through anti-war and anti-Russian online groups and invited me to join the fight against the regime. I agreed and proactively suggested organizing an explosion at the VIP parking area in Sukhumi.' A criminal case has been opened under the article of espionage. Earlier the same day, the FSB announced the detention of another Russian citizen in Krasnodar Region. He is accused of preparing a terrorist attack at an administrative building linked to the region's energy infrastructure. Authorities also claim the suspect shared information with Ukrainian special services about the movements of Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels. On Monday, the FSB detained two Russian nationals suspected of planning a sabotage attack on a defense industry facility in Moscow Region. The men were arrested while attempting to smuggle explosive devices, disguised as power banks, onto the premises.
Arab News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Putin eases access to Russian citizenship for Georgian breakaway regions
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a decree simplifying access to Russian citizenship for people from two Georgian breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Under the decree, applicants will no longer be required to permanently reside in Russia to get citizenship, or prove their knowledge of the Russian language or culture. Abkhazia and South Ossetia are recognized by most of the world as Georgian territory, but has been under de-facto Russian control since a brief 2008 war between Moscow and Tbilisi. In Abkhazia, another pro-Russian president recently won an election after the previous one was ousted following tense protests over a bill giving Russians easier access to coastal property along the Black Sea. Georgia and Russia have no diplomatic relations since the 2008 war, but critics accuse the current Georgian ruling party of being pro-Russian, and claim it came to power as a result of a rigged election. Georgia, which shares a border with Russia, declined to join international financial and economic sanctions against Moscow over its Ukraine offensive, or to support Kyiv with military equipment.
