Abkhazian Officials Linked to Banned Mining Farms

The State Security Service of Abkhazia, during raids, uncovered equipment for cryptocurrency mining, including among officials. Local media report, citing President Aslan Bzhania.

The head of state did not specify the names or positions of the officials, but called for violators to be punished harshly:

“Among those found with the devices were, according to preliminary data, representatives of the authorities. This matter must be examined very thoroughly, and such people must be removed.”

Aslan Bzhania told municipal leaders to decide for themselves on a case-by-case basis for every village head where a mining farm is found.

“Dismiss or issue a stern reprimand — you should decide for yourselves,” he said.

The president also urged the prime minister and the head of his administration to determine by the end of the week the degree of culpability of each of the leaders and to prepare a proposal on how to punish them.

“We will continue the work, sabotage notwithstanding. Even if we have to replace all leaders without exception,” he said.

The ban on mining and the import of equipment for its execution in Abkhazia has been in place since December 2020. The restrictions were last extended until March 31, 2022.

At the end of March, Abkhazia’s parliament established fines and criminal liability for illegal electricity consumption for cryptocurrency mining. The country has been conducting broad raids to identify illegal miners.

As a result of one of them, Abkhazia’s Deputy Prime Minister Kristina Ozgan demanded “within an hour” to dismiss the head of an asphalt plant where more than 200 mining devices were found.

In April, after an attempt to bring cryptocurrency mining equipment into the country, the aide to MP Lasha Sakania left his post.