During the reporting period [2025], the occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region and its accompanying destructive processes remained a challenge for the Georgian state - due to Russia's direct involvement in the ongoing processes in occupied Abkhazia, the dynamics of anti-Russian sentiments were observed. The socio-economic situation in the occupied Tskhinvali region remained difficult - reads the 2025 activity report of the State Security Service.

As stated in the document, the policy aimed at discriminating against Georgians living in the occupied region continued.

In addition, according to the report, the occupying power is actively using the ongoing processes in the occupied territories of Georgia as an instrument of pressure on Tbilisi and, at the same time, is preparing the ground for annexation at a favorable time.

“During the reporting period, the occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region and its accompanying destructive processes remained a challenge for the Georgian state. Among them, it is worth noting illegal militarization and military exercises, which in some cases were carried out with the involvement of unmanned aerial vehicles. Similar to previous years, the use of hybrid warfare components continued, including illegal detentions and so-called borderization, which aimed to damage the humanitarian and security environment on the ground. The processes aimed at annexing the occupied territories of Georgia continued with high intensity. In order to achieve the above-mentioned goal, attempts to use so-called educational programs were particularly observed. In parallel, the policy aimed at discriminating against Georgians living in the occupied region continued. It is worth noting that due to Russia’s direct involvement in the processes taking place in occupied Abkhazia, the dynamics of anti-Russian sentiments increased. Difficult socio-economic situation remained in the occupied Tskhinvali region.

Another decision of the European Court of Human Rights on October 14 in the case “Georgia v. Russia (IV)”, which concerns the ongoing occupation process, was significant. As a result, Russia was obliged to pay compensation in the amount of 253,018,000 euros to more than 29,000 affected Georgian citizens.

In addition, the implementation of Russia’s policy in the occupied regions of Georgia was entrusted to the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Sergei Kiriyenko. Kiriyenko’s policy was aimed not only at fully managing the processes, but also at preparing favorable conditions for annexation in the attitudes and perceptions of the population. Two important directions were identified. On the one hand, Russia expressed support for the occupation regime in various ways, including financial assistance, and on the other hand, it continued to use various instruments of pressure against individuals critical of the annexation processes. In particular, criminal prosecution was initiated against so-called opposition figures, including journalists, they were stripped of Russian citizenship and included in the register of foreign agents. In addition, a trend of deliberate intensification of air, rail and sea “connections” between Russia and the occupied region was observed.

Of note is the issue of the restoration of the so-called airport in occupied Sokhumi, which is an additional lever for Russia to control the occupied region. It is noteworthy that since the day of its opening, the occupying power has artificially tried to maintain the relevance of the “airport” in occupied Sokhumi, which is also indicated by the subsidization of flights by Russia. Despite the above-mentioned efforts, the occupation regime did not receive any significant political or economic benefits from the operation of the so-called airport during the reporting period.

It is noteworthy that, against the backdrop of the ongoing annexation policy and Russification in the occupied region, the occupying power increased pressure on Georgian teachers living in occupied Gali. Reports have been spread regarding attempts to increase control over their activities and personal lives. There have also been reports of illegal detentions on fabricated charges of “espionage”. Social networks were also used to increase pressure, where it was noted in a negative context that some teachers and school principals provide Gali with the opportunity to teach in their native language. Russia’s goal is the linguistic, cultural and ideological assimilation of local youth, including Georgians, and the change of their identity.

The occupying power is actively using the ongoing processes in the occupied territories of Georgia as an instrument of pressure on Tbilisi and, at the same time, is preparing the ground, at a convenient time, for the implementation of annexation,” reads the report.

In addition, according to the document, during 2025, 34 cases of illegal detention were identified in the occupied Tskhinvali region, and 40 in the occupied Abkhazia direction. At the end of 2025, a total of 15 Georgian citizens were in illegal detention.

As for illegal so-called borderization, during the reporting period, 3 cases of illegal so-called borderization were recorded in the direction of occupied Abkhazia, and 55 in the direction of the occupied Tskhinvali region.