Abkhazian official accuses crypto miners of draining Russia's emergency electricity supplies

Abkhaz officials have again blamed cryptocurrency miners for the country’s ongoing energy crisis, saying emergency power supplies from Russia are running out. The crisis could peak next month as Moscow’s “humanitarian electricity” supplies begin to dwindle. According to Timur Dzhindzholiya, head of power supplier Chernomorenergo, at Abkhazia’s current consumption rate, “power supplies from Russia” can only “last until February 18.” The country’s government is now “powerless” to stop cryptocurrency miners. Robert Kiut, Abkhaz’s Minister of Internal Affairs, said miners are using “loopholes to circumvent the law.” Abkhaz law states that no landowner can use more than 300 kilowatts of electricity. But the minister said miners can share ownership of larger cryptocurrency farms to “share consumption” and “avoid criminal liability.” Abkhaz residents believe that “law enforcement agencies are well aware of the locations and owners of cryptocurrency farms, but do not take any real steps to stop them.”