The “Common Social and Economic Space” Agreement Between Abkhazia and Russia: A Path to Russia?

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the “Common Social and Economic Space” agreement signed between the de facto state Abkhazia and its patron, the Russian Federation, in November 2020 and its potential implications for the further development of Abkhaz- Russian affairs. Based on a careful assessment of the gradual development of Abkhaz- Russian relations, the content of the new agreement, and the geopolitical context surrounding it, the article argues that Russia is using the agreement, which obliges Abkhazia to adapt to Russian legislation in vital social, political, and economic sectors, to eliminate a crucial legal barrier against Moscow’s further inroads into the de facto republic. The article concludes that this so-called “harmonization agreement” constitutes an important preparatory step towards a potential full integration of Abkhazia into the Russian Federation.