Abkhazia to cut off Internet to fight against mining

In Abkhazia on the night of December 10, Internet access will be experimentally cut off from 00:00 to 07:00 local time (coincides with Moscow time) as a measure to combat illegal mining. This was announced by acting Prime Minister Valery Bganba at a meeting of the Operstab on ensuring energy security on December 9.

"Tonight from 00:00 to 07:00 we turn off the Internet in Abkhazia in order to combat illegal mining and see what effect it will have. In addition, saving electricity is not canceled," he said.

General Director of the company "Chernomorenergo" Timur Jinjolia said that now from 40 to 45 megawatts of the total energy system is consumed by mining farms.

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Earlier in the day, Bganba said that schools and kindergartens of the republic will be closed from tomorrow (December 10) due to the emergency situation in the energy sector.

On December 6, acting Finance Minister of Abkhazia Vladimir Delba said that the republic has no funds to pay salaries to employees of budgetary organizations. According to him, if the country continues to consolidate efforts to find funds for the purchase of electricity, then salaries will not be paid either.

Before that, on December 3, members of the Abkhazian parliament voted against ratification of the agreement on investments of Russian legal entities in the republic. In November, the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia about plans to strengthen relations with Russia. The ministry called Russia a strategic ally of the republic.

In September, Russia suspended social payments to teachers, doctors and employees of law enforcement agencies in Abkhazia. Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba added that at bilateral meetings Abkhazia was repeatedly warned about the possible consequences of non-fulfillment of obligations.