MOSCOW – Russia will begin supplying electricity to the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, responding to a humanitarian appeal following severe power shortages. The shortages began in early December when low water levels at the Enguri hydroelectric dam triggered an emergency shutdown.
Abkhazia’s self-styled president, Badra Gunba, announced that Russia would assist by transferring electricity to alleviate the “humanitarian catastrophe” caused by the power crisis. The power outages, which had previously lasted up to 11 hours a day, will now be reduced to four hours daily.
Abkhazia, which borders Russia’s Krasnodar region, has been a long-standing Russian ally since its separation from Georgia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia recognized both Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent following the 2008 war with Georgia.