Russian naval base in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia may be launched in 2024 -Abkhazia authorities

A Russian naval base in Abkhazia, a breakaway territory internationally recognised as part of Georgia, may become operational in 2024, Russian state news agency RIA quoted Abkhazia's security council as saying on Friday. Russian and Abkhazian authorities agreed in October that Russia could open a permanent naval base in the town of Ochamchire.

Abkhazia enjoyed extensive Russian support in a series of wars it fought to secede from Georgia in the 1990s and again in 2008, and Russian forces have long been stationed in the Caucasus territory.