According to the Bichvinta resort draught agreement, 115 hectares of sea space and 186 hectares of land are handed over to the Russian Federation. All buildings and structures will become the property of the Russian Federal Protective Service, and Russia will get a 49-year lease on the Black Sea region and neighbouring areas.
The covert signing of the paper between Moscow and Sokhumi angered the population. The de-facto Abkhazian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not informed the local deputies about the signed agreement; nonetheless, according to the process, the foreign political agency is obligated to notify the parliament about intergovernmental agreements. Even opposition-minded and less-politicized Abkhazian citizens are opposed to the aforementioned deal.
This document became available to Abkhaz lawmakers in March 2022, when the Inter-Parliamentary Relations Committee accepted the agreement. Many believe that the transfer of control of the facility would result in the establishment of a Russian enclave in Abkhazia and the loss of regional sovereignty. The Abkhaz de-facto president argued that "the transfer of Bichvinta resort to Russia is a guarantee of Abkhazia's security" and that "since Russia guarantees the protection of Abkhazia's territories, the country's authorities are simply obligated to commit an act of goodwill and hand over the buildings, lands, and marine waters."
The most common theory is that Bichvinta Cape is where a large Russian military base is. This is because Bichvinta Cape is a strategic location. According to reports, the Abkhaz commander also handed the country's energy infrastructure to Russia. Locals assume that Bzhania may have also turned over more objects, likely in the expectation that the local populace, which will receive pensions and salaries from the Russian government, would not dispute the move.
The issue of Bichvinta has caused wide-ranging debates in Tbilisi. The non-governmental organisation "Center for Social Justice" responded to the concerns related to the leasing of part of the Bichvinti resort. In a statement released on July 25, the organisation criticised the Georgian government for "not even issuing an official statement," which would be a sign of actively bringing this issue to the attention of the international community and organizations, sending a diplomatic signal of dissatisfaction with Russia, and at the same time showing support for Abkhazian society.
Furthermore, the political party "Ana Dolidze-For the People" proposed a solution to the Bichvinta problem to the government. According to party head Ana Dolidze, her party published a four-point strategy for the region's ties with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Despite that, there was no official response from the government.
