Putin Says Russia Will Continue Helping Abkhazia With Development Challenges

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will continue to help Abkhazia address its socio-economic development challenges, according to a report from Russian state news agency TASS.

Putin described relations between Russia and Abkhazia as friendly and allied in nature, according to the report, reaffirming Moscow's ongoing support for the partially recognized territory.

Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia, though it is recognized as an independent state by only a small number of countries, with Russia among its most prominent backers. Moscow has provided various forms of economic and security support to the territory since the conflict with Georgia in the early 1990s and subsequent tensions in the following decades.

The report did not specify what new or continued measures Russia plans to provide in support of Abkhazia's development, nor did it detail specific socio-economic challenges being addressed.

Russia's relationship with Abkhazia remains a point of contention in its broader relations with Georgia and Western countries, many of which do not recognize Abkhazia's independence and consider it part of Georgian territory.

No additional details about upcoming initiatives or agreements between Russia and Abkhazia were included in the available report.