Journalist Nizfa Arshba* refuses to disclose her sources to Abkhazian State Security Service

At a trial on a lawsuit against the State Security Service of Abkhazia, Abkhazian journalist Nizfa Arshba* called the compensation in the amount of five million roubles demanded by her adequate. The journalist also refused to disclose the sources of her posts. Representatives of the defendant’s side withdrew their statement on readiness for a settlement agreement.

On June 17, the Sukhumi City Court began hearing the merits of the Nizfa Arshba*’s lawsuit against the State Security Service of Abkhazia for the protection of honour and dignity. The journalist believes that a publication by the Abkhazian State Security Service resulted in her being declared a foreign agent in Russia.

The plaintiff was the first to speak in court, as follows from the report posted on the YouTube channel of the “Abaza-TV” Company. Nizfa Arshba* claimed that on August 16, 2024, she learned that the State Security Service of Abkhazia posted a message on its website about the inconsistency of the materials by the “Aiashara” agency, founded by Nizfa Arshba*. The message posted on the Abkhazian State Security Service’s website reported, among other things, that Nizfa Arshba* received a “reasonable refusal” to enter Georgia.

The journalist demands in court that the State Security Service of Abkhazia either prove that its information is true by providing documents attesting to the Nizfa Arshba*’s attempt to leave for Georgia, namely the exit application form completed by Nizfa Arshba* and the “reasonable refusal,” or admit that it provided the public with false information.

The representatives Abkhazian State Security Service have stated that they are withdrawing their statement of readiness to reach a settlement agreement and do not consider the amount of compensation of five million roubles requested by the plaintiff to be adequate and, accordingly, do not support the claims.

A defendant’s lawyer asked on what grounds Nizfa Arshba* was demanding the mentioned amount of compensation. The journalist responded that she would substantiate her claims during the trial. Nizfa Arshba* also added that she still demands a small compensation for the moral damage caused to her.

Then the defendant’s lawyer, with reference to the law on mass media, requested the journalist to disclose her sources of information used in the “Aiashara” agency’s post, which the State Security Service of Abkhazia considered to be untrue. The journalist refused to disclose the sources even if the court requested her to do so. “Never within 26 years of my professional activities have I disclosed my sources of information. Perhaps this is how I earned the trust of not only citizens, but also government agencies. And I do not intend to do disclose my sources,” Nizfa Arshba* stated.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 18, 2025 at 09:18 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here. 

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.