Abkhazia–Venezuela relations
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Abkhazia–Venezuela relations refers to
bilateral relations Bilateralism is the conduct of political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which is activity by a single state or jointly by multiple states, respectively. When ...
between the breakaway
Republic of Abkhazia Abkhazia, ka, აფხაზეთი, tr, , xmf, აბჟუა, abzhua, or ( or ), officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which vi ...
and Venezuela. Venezuela recognised Abkhazia, along with South Ossetia, on 10 September 2009, almost ten years after the country declared independence from Georgia in 1999. Venezuela was the third state to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia, after Russia and Nicaragua. During the
2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis The Venezuelan presidential crisis is an ongoing political crisis concerning the leadership and the legitimate president of Venezuela; the office of the president has been contested since 10 January 2019, with the Responses to the Venezuelan p ...
, Interim President Juan Guaidó seeks to withdraw the recognition of
Abkhazia Abkhazia, ka, აფხაზეთი, tr, , xmf, აბჟუა, abzhua, or ( or ), officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which vi ...
and South Ossetia and improve relations with Georgia once a new government is created.


Recognition by Venezuela of Abkhazia's independence

Venezuelan President
Hugo Chávez Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (; 28 July 1954 – 5 March 2013) was a Venezuelan politician who was president of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013, except for a brief period in 2002. Chávez was also leader of the Fifth Republ ...
announced that his government recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia when he was hosted by Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev ( rus, links=no, Дмитрий Анатольевич Медведев, p=ˈdmʲitrʲɪj ɐnɐˈtolʲjɪvʲɪtɕ mʲɪdˈvʲedʲɪf; born 14 September 1965) is a Russian politician who has been serving as the dep ...
in Moscow. Chávez also announced that formal diplomatic relations would be established with both republics. Relations between Abkhazia and Venezuela had already been good before recognition. Deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela Luis Tascón Gutiérrez visited Abkhazia in November 2006 and declared that Abkhazia had friends in Venezuela and that Venezuela would support its quest for independence. President Chávez also defended Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in August 2008, stating "Russia has recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We support Russia. Russia is right and is defending its interests." Following the announcement of recognition, Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh responded: "We have always looked to Venezuela and some other Latin American countries with hope. An Abkhazian delegation is now in
Caracas Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...
after visiting Cuba and Nicaragua, where they received a warm welcome and support." The Georgian Foreign Ministry condemned the decision by the Venezuelan government, referring to President Chávez as a "dictator" in an official statement made later on the same day.


Diplomatic relations and exchange of ambassadors

Abkhazia and Venezuela have established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. Venezuela's ambassador to Abkhazia is resident in Moscow. On 11 July 2010, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Venezuela Hugo Jose Garcia Hernandez presented his credentials to Abkhazia's Minister for Foreign Affairs
Maxim Gvinjia Maxim Gvinjia ( ab, Максим Ӷәынџьиа, ka, მაქსიმ ღვინჯია) is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia. Before he was appointed on 26 February 2010 to replace Sergei Shamba, Gvinjia had served as ...
, and on 12 July, to President Bagapsh. A formal document on the establishing of diplomatic relations at the level of ambassadors was signed on 23 July during a state visit of President Bagapsh to Venezuela. On 6 December, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Abkhazia Zaur Gvajava presented his credentials to Vice President
Elías Jaua Elías José Jaua Milano (born 16 December 1969) is a Venezuelan politician and former university professor who serves as the Minister of Education of Venezuela. He served as the vice president of Venezuela from January 2010 to October 2012 and ha ...
of Venezuela. On 3 September 2015, Venezuela's new ambassador Juan Vicente Paredes Torrealba presented his credentials to Foreign Minister
Viacheslav Chirikba Viacheslav Chirikba is a linguist and politician from Abkhazia. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia between 2011 and 2016. Personal life Chirikba was born on 17 March 1959 in Gagra. From 1966 until 1976, he attended School No.5 in ...
and President Raul Khajimba.


Further meetings

A meeting between the two governments' deputy foreign ministers in September 2009 reportedly focused on political and economic cooperation. Abkhazia has requested that Venezuela create a platform for lobbying the recognition of Abkhazia's independence in Latin America. From 21 to 25 July 2012, an Abkhazian delegation headed by President Bagapsh visited Venezuela after a similar stay in Nicaragua, together with a similar delegation from South Ossetia. The visit was aimed at promoting international recognition and expanding relations within Latin America and the Caribbean. Prime Minister of Abkhazia
Sergei Shamba Sergei Shamba ( ab, Сергеи Шамба, ka, სერგეი შამბა) is a senior politician from Abkhazia. He is currently a member of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia and Chairman of United Abkhazia. He was Prime Minister of Abk ...
said, "We believe that countries that respect the authority of Chavez as a regional leader will follow suit." On 22 July, the presidents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia were declared guests of honour of Venezuela and symbolically received the keys of the city of
Caracas Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...
. On 23 July agreements were signed on the beginning of cooperation, on the establishing of diplomatic relations, on friendship and cooperation and on political dialogue. President Bagapsh also invited Venezolan oil producer PdVSA to invest in Abkhazia – this was seen as an attempt to lessen the Abkhaz dependence to Russia. The cooperation agreements were ratified by the National Assembly of Venezuela on 14 October. The treaty on cooperation and friendship formally came into force on 29 October 2012. In 2019, Abkhaz president Raul Khajimba traveled to Venezuela as head of a delegation of his country. Khajimba attended the inauguration of
Nicolás Maduro Nicolás Maduro Moros (; born 23 November 1962) is a Venezuelan politician and president of Venezuela since 2013, with his presidency under dispute since 2019. Beginning his working life as a bus driver, Maduro rose to become a trade unio ...
as the Venezuelan president.


See also

* International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Official website of the Abkhazian Embassy in Venezuela


References


External links


Embassy of the Republic of Abkhazia in Venezuela


{{DEFAULTSORT:Abkhazia-Venezuela relations Venezuela Bilateral relations of Venezuela