Abkhazian media actively responded to statements made by head of the separatist regime Sergei Bagapsh about necessity of decisive fight against corruption in the region.

The article about this was published by Abkhazian journalist Inal Khashig in the Nuzhnaya newspaper in the middle of June. The article was titled "Why has the government suddenly started to talk about corruption?" The author says "President of Abkhazia addresses the population to call to the office of the president and Prime minister, government bodies and city and town administrations regarding every single fact of extortion of money on the part of state officials. Sergei Bagapsh promised the population to make immediate responses to complaints of citizens. And that it was possible to call even anonymously. ..

The article mentions that according to Bagapsh "authorities will establish order , combat corruption at every level and information is being determined about appropriation of money allotted by privatization fund for development of small private sector and during the process of issuing of bank credits and rendering material help for population. According to him again, it is necessary to find out which governmental bodies are extracting money from people for issuance of credits. It is also very important to create an able system to control purposeful spending of funds that are allotted for development of small business".

Inal Khashig also indicates that "when for the last five years there was not even rhetorical talk about this problem in the government in the course of the last two weeks Bagapsh has already made two statements about a tough fight against corruption. A logical question arises: what is a reason for this awakening? And Inal Khashig himself is trying to answer this question. In his opinion "for years Abkhazian officials have been improving their financial state through so-called "otkats" and bribes, getting shares in businesses of others and so on. At that they have excellent conditions for work – there are no risk factors when in neighbouring Russia people were and are being punished severely for similar crimes and sentences are topped up by confiscation of assets. While the biggest sentence that those who take bribes can get is dismissal from work and even then this "highest" sentence is given in very rare cases" – continues the journalist in his article.

On our part we should add that as a rule, even during the Soviet Union it was very difficult to sentence high-rank officials of Abkhazian origin and they belonged to "special cases " - term mentioned by Khashig. It was well-known that ethnic Abkhazian citizens had many other privileges as well as that with time apartheid-like attitudes towards other ethnicities were formed in their consciousness. And the main dream of fathers of the Abkhazian ideology to legalize governance of Abkhazians on other nationalities and that was successfully achieved after expelling Georgians (their main interferers) from the region by establishing an apartheid regime in Abkhazia that was led by Vyacheslav Ardzinba. It seem that dream of the separatist will not last long and what Georgian people conceded under the constant pressure from the central committee of the Soviet Union and due to unscrupulousness of the central Georgian government, Russian officials will not cede to Abkhazians and excuse them. And probably, imaginary "awakening" of Bagapsh is due to this and he is trying not to offend Russians. But he and his close circle is so deeply sunk into the swamp of corruption that and even if they were willing it would be very hard for them to change something. In addition, existing situation creates suitable conditions for members of clans to get cozy in governing circles. To illustrate this it will be enough to mention that amendments were made in the agenda of the so-called parliament and members of the parliament were given right to a secret vote in order to avoid offending someone or prevent somebody's wrath.

"Of course Sergey Bagapsh would have been informed about these facts by relevant bodies but somehow he never interfered with Abkhazian officials and never took any measures against them. Probably he did not have enough power to fight this ailment and make rough decisions as in this case he would have confronted officials of the bureaucratic apparatus who dishonestly gained wealth. And it is not clear how this confrontation would have ended. He is not a revolutionary in his essence and it is clear. All the more that motto of stable development is his credo and in the future he will not have to stand for a new term of presidency" – says Khashig.

All the above pushes us towards seeking reasons for this outside. As it is known leaders of the separatist government had serious talks in the Kremlin starting from the beginning of this year about mechanisms to control spending of more than 10 billions rubles in the region. From the beginning Moscow offered to create separate directorate at the Ministry of Regional Development main task of which would have been management and control of funds allotted to Abkhazia. Naturally, Abkhazian side categorically disliked this idea as this would have meant transferring management of the region to outside management. On the other hand, locally they are so "confused" in the expectation of such large sums that they have yet to think of mechanisms of control of its "mastering". On way or another, Sergei Bagapsh whose interests happened to coincide with national interests and with active support of his comrades (some of whom were involved in talks) decided to please his team and confront Moscow and "get his way". Probably Moscow itself did not expect such opposition given that nothing like this was done by Bagapsh for the last two years. Sukhumi consented to all kinds of concessions to Russia even when it came to such important issues as "joint" protection of the border, military agreement and many others that violated and ignored national interests.

But what is happening lately in the region? The Kremlin got such a fierce and united confrontation from today's governing circles of Abkhazia regarding development and control of funds allotted to Abkhazia that this rhetorical question was asked by Khashig.

So-called Prime Minister Sergei Shamba said "it was considered to open Russian directorate at the Ministry of Regional development that was to conduct management of incoming funds. We were categorically against this. We said that we are not a region of Russia for Russian Ministry of Regional development to work on these issues and that we have the government which is ready for cooperation. We will decide ourselves where and how to use these funds and how to control their spending".

Some time afterwards Shamba said the following: "We have seen that establishment of southern directorate in South Ossetia for similar projects led to confrontation between sides. And we cannot be happy with such result. Therefore we do not want to repeat this result". "We have our visions and approaches. Now the issue will be resolved as we have suggested to Russia. Let them send money and we will take care of the projects" –added the head of the separatist government.

Although Moscow tried to use experience from Tskhinvali in the process of negotiations in its favor but when the Abkhazian side used the same as an counter-argument Moscow decided to accept a temporary "compromise". But it is clear that Russia does not intend to put funds allotted to Abkhazia down the drain. Strength and weaknesses of officials of the governing bodies of Abkhazia as well as reasons for confrontations between local clans are sufficiently well known. It is well known up till today the separatist have not got a body that would control appropriateness of spending of allotted funds. We should hereby mention that such body has been created in Tskhinvali only recently and it is called service of control and economic security. If they wanted to create such body in Abkhazia they would have created it long time ago. But effectiveness of this service would have depended on its personnel and tasks assigned by local authorities.

It is a fact that topic of allotment of Russian funds to Abkhazia raised quite a stir both in the government and opposition and even in the society. By the end of this year it will become clear what Abkhazian officials will decide to spend these funds on.

We suppose that they will inevitably take into account experience of their South Ossetian colleagues in the question of "mastering" of these funds and they will "invest" large sums in the following spheres and facilities:

a) "Development" of resort industry - one of the main income of the local budget;
b) Construction and restoration of roads, bridges, communications and their infrastructure;
c) Construction and restoration works of cultural and educational facilities;
d) Development of communications and transport links;
e) Restoration of traditional and primary spheres of agriculture;
f) Support of small business;
g) Protection of ecosystem and environment as well as works for shore protection in the Black Sea waters and so on.

This is a list of spheres where it is relatively easy to appropriate certain part of funds locally. Given the above, we believe that recent statements of Bagapsh and Shamba and their calls on tough fight against corruption is yet another show. And it aims mainly at warning local officials not to even dream about appropriation of Russian funds. On one hand, they believe that thus governing circles and their people would get more if there are less of those appropriators. And on the other hand they want to show to their Russian masters that they are striving towards exemplary order in the region and funds allotted by Russians will only be used purposely. And that no thieves, appropriators and bribe-takers will be allowed near... Let's see...