On a one-day visit to Abkhazia, Vladimir Putin assured the breakaway state that Russia would provide, ‘systemic economic, political and, if needed, military support’, worth between $350 million and $500 million (reports vary on the exact sum) over the next two years.  A significant amount will be allotted to ‘the development of our military base and strengthening of Abkhazia’s state border next year’, the Prime Minister told reporters.  A new naval base which will be constructed in Ochamchira, close to the Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi, which have been visited by US warships of late, could raise US eyebrows.  Russia apparently does not plan to increase the number of troops that it has in the rebel regions, nor will it redeploy its Black Sea Fleet warships from Ukraine to Abkhazia.  The government of Abkhazia has denounced the attempt to silence the pro-Georgian blogger Cyxymu as it sees the internet as a tool to encourage ‘constructive debate’.