Taklama

There has not been much news recently regarding Abkhazia's attempts to achieve more widespread diplomatic recognition, or attempts by Georgia to undo these efforts. But two tidbits of information in recent days indicate that, behind the scenes, this struggle is still very much ongoing.

On 19 November, Vanuatu's Daily Post reported that the opposition had made public an email alleged to have been sent to Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Edward Natapei, urging them to reconsider breaking off relations with Abkhazia and suggesting that the decision to establish relations with Georgia instead had been made in return for 'lobbying assistance' (apparently in the form of funds to be transferred through Georgia's embassy in London) to achieve a change in government in Vanuatu (at the time Natapei was one of the leaders of the opposition).

Today, Georgia's Minister for Reintegration announced before Parliament that efforts were ongoing to convince one of the countries that recognise Abkhazia's independence to 'undo' this decision, apparently hinting at Tuvalu, which recently saw a change in government.

Time will tell what will come of this.