Statements by the President of Abkhazia, Badra Gunba:
The Head of State called the opening of the Dioskurov Embankment a unique opportunity for the citizens and guests of the republic.
The President expressed gratitude to the republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan for their historical alliance with the people of Abkhazia, their support during the Patriotic War and the post-war period, and also thanked all Russian regions, businesses, workers, and contractors for their contribution to the project's implementation.
All work was completed very excellently This is for eternity. "Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank Sergey Vladilenovich Kiriyenko on behalf of the people of Abkhazia for initiating the reconstruction of the embankment," the president said.
Responding to the question about frequent festivals and holidays, he noted that he respects criticism but considers it unfounded;
Tourism, according to Badra Gunba, is the locomotive of the economy, followed by the development of other sectors. The President stated that the government is consciously building a concept for attracting tourists and Abkhazia needs to compete for its guests by creating the most favorable conditions.
The Head of State also recalled that 2026 has been declared the Year of the Village, within the framework of which instructions were given on the implementation of a state program with a funding volume of 500 million rubles. According to Badra Gunba, the authorities will pay close attention to this area. Support for the countryside will not stop – this is systematic work.
Statements by First Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko:
Russia has fully fulfilled its obligations regarding the reconstruction of the embankment.
Sergey Kiriyenko shared that the Sukhum Embankment has always been the most beautiful for him on the Black Sea coast.
The reconstruction project, according to him, is of great importance for the development of tourism and the economy of Abkhazia, job creation, and budget replenishment.
Answering a question about the second season of the Presidential Personnel Competition "Team Abkhazia," he emphasized that nearly 3,400 applications have been submitted, which is more than in the first season. According to Sergey Kiriyenko, Abkhazia's main wealth is its talented people who want to realize their potential honestly, through their abilities.
Based on the experience of conducting similar projects in the Russian Federation, the success of the personnel competition depended on whether it would provide participants with a real opportunity to take positions in public service, to realize themselves and their projects. This was achieved, among the winners of the first season are already deputy prime ministers, ministers, heads of departments, – Kiriyenko noted;
He noted that Abkhazia faces many challenges, and today there is a unique window of opportunity that is extremely important not to miss. This directly depends on the quality of management and on people willing to take responsibility. Also, Sergey Kiriyenko emphasized the importance of developing tourism as one of the main economic drivers, alongside agriculture and processing.
Following the meeting with the contest winners, it was decided to launch the second stage of the "Hospitable Abkhazia" contest in the autumn, after the completion of the second season of "Team Abkhazia."