"In 2021, illegally deployed Russian heavy weapons and military contingent remained in the occupied territories of Georgia, intensive military exercises and the process of militarization were underway on the ground.

The policy of annexation of the occupied territories by the Russian occupation forces continued during the reporting period.

During 2021, against the background of the new coronavirus pandemic, the situation of the ethnic Georgian population living in the occupied territories remained difficult, the restriction of their fundamental rights continued.

In the occupied territories, along with the Russian military, the activities were carried out by the intelligence services of the Russian Federation - the Main Intelligence Division of the Ministry of Defense, the Federal Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service.

In 2021, the military exercises of the occupation forces were held with high intensity. The units of the 7th and 4th military bases of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation, according to available information, conducted more than 125 exercises of various types and scales. In addition, planned rotations, upgrading of weapons and military equipment were carried out at the mentioned bases. Against this background, the policy of the Russian occupation forces, which did not allow international organizations to enter and monitor the occupied territories, remained particularly worrying.

The activities of the Russian military contingent and special services illegally represented in the occupied regions of Georgia posed a threat to the security of Georgia and the region.

The occupation regime of Abkhazia has made several statements in support of the creation of a "common area of ​​defense and security and socio-economic development" with Russia in 2021 and in this regard, the statements in support of "integration" were voiced. Easing the so-called regulations at the "Psou checkpoint", "legalization" of the purchase of real estate in the occupied region for the citizens of the Russian Federation and other issues were actively discussed. The so-called president of Abkhazia called all this the concession of "a certain part of sovereignty" in favor of the Russian Federation. In 2021, the Kremlin was actively seeking to increase its influence in the energy sector of occupied Abkhazia. The statements made by the de facto authorities about the need to attract large Russian investments in the energy sector of occupied Abkhazia represented a part of annexation policy," - the SSG report reads. 

According to the report, the high financial dependence of the occupied regions of Georgia on the Russian federal budget should be considered through the prism of the annexation policy.

“The available data, about 50% (USD 69,472,492) of the so-called budget of occupied Abkhazia, and about 83% (USD 84,898,637) of the so-called budget of occupied Tskhinvali region is funded by the Russian Federation.

In 2021, there were active illegal arrests, illegal so-called borderization process, disinformation campaigns and other activities that damage the security environment,” - the report says.