On 23 October 2024, the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) approved the laws for the ratification of the pending income tax treaties with Abkhazia and Malaysia. The treaty with Abkhazia was signed on 7 May 2024. It is the first of its kind between the two jurisdictions and will enter into force after the ratification instruments are exchanged. Note that Abkhazia is a contested territory that is recognized as an independent state by Nauru, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela. Essentially all other countries recognize Abkhazia as a sovereign territory of Georgia. The treaty with Malaysia was signed on...