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MOSCOW (Reuters) – From Monday, Russia will begin sending humanitarian electricity supplies to Abkhazia, a self-declared independent region in Georgia that is supported by Moscow, according to reports from Russian news outlets.
The region has experienced significant electricity shortages typical during winter months, which worsened in early December when the Enguri hydroelectric dam faced critical low water levels, leading to an emergency shut down of operations.
Local leaders pleaded for assistance from Russia, stating that Abkhazia was on the brink of a “humanitarian catastrophe” due to the dire energy crisis.
According to Badra Gunba, who claims the presidency of Abkhazia, the Russian government has responded to their request for help, initiating the transfer of electricity as part of humanitarian efforts. This was reported by the Interfax news agency on Sunday.
With the new supplies expected, electricity outages will be reduced to four hours a day, a significant improvement from the current 9 to 11 hours that residents are experiencing according to the local energy company, Chernomorenergo.
Geographically, Abkhazia is adjacent to Russia’s Krasnodar region. At this time, Russia’s Energy Ministry has not responded to inquiries regarding this matter, and officials from the Russian electricity export company InterRAO have also refrained from commenting.
Since gaining de facto independence after a conflict that followed the Soviet Union’s disintegration in the early 1990s, Abkhazia has been supported by Moscow, which, alongside another breakaway region, South Ossetia, recognized both territories as independent following a brief war with Georgia in 2008.
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