Russia, Abkhazia plan to complete harmonization of laws in 2025

SUKHUM. Aug 13 (Interfax) - Russia and Abkhazia will complete a program for harmonizing their laws in 2025, the Abkhaz Economy Ministry said following a meeting of a joint working group at Russia's Economic Development Ministry.

Work on most of the previously planned measures under this program should be finalized this year, it said.

"The work on harmonizing laws is being done under directives from the two heads of state and is aimed at carrying out measures in such sectors as social support, pension provision, education, healthcare, tax and customs regulation, investment, and banking activities. It can be said already now that Russian and Abkhaz government bodies have completed the work on most of the initially planned measures," it said.

Abkhazia adopted Part 4 of its Civil Code in 2024, which regulates intellectual property issues, as well as laws on the foundations of social support for citizens, on foreign currency regulation, and on the personified registration of pension security system participants. Abkhazia and Russia have also signed and ratified an agreement on avoiding double taxation.

The working group is co-chaired by Russian Deputy Economic Development Minister Dmitry Volvach and Abkhaz Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Kristina Ozgan.

The program for building a common social and economic environment between Russia and Abkhazia was endorsed at a meeting between the two presidents in 2020.

The program aims to provide favorable conditions for Abkhazia's full-scale involvement in integration processes being pursued at Russia's initiative and with its support.

The Abkhaz and Russian presidents signed a treaty on allied relations and strategic partnership on November 24, 2014. The treaty envisions a coordinated foreign policy, the establishment of a common defense and security environment, and a common social and economic environment.