Abkhazia Weekly Brief | Issue 7
"Bad policies are the offspring of selfish leaders and the enemy of progress."
We offer our deepest apologies to Artur Aloev for all the slander he has endured from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We are grateful for your sacrifice, your bravery, and your love for Abkhazia. As Nizfa Arshba said, “Believe us, we are not all the same; but there are still those among us who LACK HONOUR and CONSIENCE!”
Welcome to this week's Abkhazia Weekly Brief | Issue 7.
In this edition, we cover the detention of war veteran Artur Aloev, which has sparked public outrage. We also report on the recent amendments to the "Citizenship Law" by the Abkhazian Parliament and other featured developments that we found important to bring you.
Stay informed with our concise coverage of these key stories.
The detention of 59-year-old war veteran and Kabarda volunteer Artur Aloev has sparked outrage in Abkhaz society and on social media.
On May 25, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported: “Artur Aloev, born in 1965 and residing in Agudzera, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. A functional homemade revolver with six 5.6 mm rounds was found in his bedroom. Aloev, under the influence of drugs at the time, was released on his own recognisance pending investigation.”
Levan Mikaa, Chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Abkhazia's Sovereignty, criticised the government for targeting ties with the North Caucasus. The veteran organization "Aruaa" expressed concern over the government's attitude towards veterans, condemning politically motivated actions by the police.
Online comments reflected public outrage:
"A scout who, alongside Mushni Khvartskiya, carried out combat missions that you, disgraceful policemen, couldn't even dream of. A hero who fought for the freedom of Abkhazia at a time when Abkhazians were fleeing. Artur Aloev is a hero who inspired hundreds of his compatriots in the North Caucasus and directed them to us during our most difficult period. Personally, I offer my deepest apologies to Artur Aloev for all the slander he has endured from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We are grateful for your sacrifice, your bravery, and your love for Abkhazia. Believe me, we are not all the same; but there are still those among us who lack honour and conscience!" (Nizfa Arshba)
"This inhumanity towards our brothers is shameful."
"Veterans didn’t get rehabilitation after the war. It's not right to publicise their issues."
"This must be a mistake. Return his weapon and apologise. These individuals deserve respect."
The controversy ended when it was clarified that there was no shooting incident, and the revolver was a wartime relic. Aloev was released after two days in detention, and the issue of misinformation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs faded away.
The organisation of veterans of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia, “Aruaa,” issued a statement in response to the Ministry of Internal Affairs' report on the detention of volunteer and war hero Artur Aloev:
We firmly state that volunteers like Artur Aloev, guided by the honour of a Caucasian, the Abkhaz-Adyghe brotherhood, and the call of blood, came to the aid of our people during the most challenging period for our homeland. We will not allow our heroic history and the people who defended our country's independence, while some compatriots chose to flee and hide from the war, to be dragged through the mud.
Every volunteer is a national hero to us, and even in the times of the USSR, a war hero was never humiliated in television reports unless he had committed a particularly heinous crime.
Today, Arthur Aloev, a recipient of the Order of Leon, was detained for carrying a pistol.
If law enforcement were truly objective, they would confiscate weapons from everyone indiscriminately, but that is far from the case.
This man, a warrior, crossed mountain passes, left his family, including a five-year-old daughter, mother, and sisters, as the only son in the family, to protect Abkhazia from aggressors and ensure that officers could perform their duties and serve.
But what kind of attitude do law enforcement officers have towards veterans? Are you deliberately undermining the contributions of people to the country?
Why, Robert Kiut, did you not publicly name the officers who unlawfully detained a minor child?
Yet your service detains, records, and broadcasts on AT the identity and accomplishments of a person who has served the Abkhaz people?
WHO IS GIVING YOU THESE ORDERS?
We are fed up with the countless wrong actions of the current government and its most incompetent officials in modern Abkhaz history. We are counting the days until this government and its officials, who act against their own people and their interests, are gone. HISTORY WILL REMEMBER PRESIDENT BZHANIA AND ALL THE OFFICIALS WHO WORKED WITH HIM WITH SHAME.
Irakli Tuzhba, Abkhazia’s newly appointed acting Foreign Minister, has lost his position before officially assuming office. Sources indicate that his private visit to the US was deemed unacceptable. Following the unclear dismissal of former Foreign Minister Inal Ardzinba on April 20, Tuzhba, Ardzinba’s deputy, was appointed as acting minister, with his official appointment announced on May 20.
Critics labeled Tuzhba’s trip to the US as inappropriate, sparking controversy. With Tuzhba's position now vacant, another Deputy Minister, Odysseus Bigvava, has been appointed as the new acting minister.
In December last year, outrage erupted in the Abkhaz online community over police brutality. Officers severely beat a detained a Mingrelian — Georgian citizen Temur Karbaia, resulting in his hospitalisation and subsequent death. On 21 May 2024, the Gal District Court acquitted officers Albert Zarakua and Vianor Abshilava of grievous bodily harm and abuse of power but found them guilty of negligence, fining them 50,000 rubles and banning them from certain positions for a year. The verdict sparked widespread criticism on social media, highlighting perceived injustices in the legal system.
Aishara Telegram channel has called for action in response to reports of police misconduct. They posted the following statement:
It's no secret that citizens frequently observe police officers of various ranks in an intoxicated state.
Given the prevalence of such incidents, it is time to conduct inspections of every police officer using the new, expensive equipment specifically acquired by the state for this purpose. This is especially necessary for members of the operational services, both in the central apparatus of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and all city and district police departments.
You demand our trust, so prove to us that your ranks are clean!
Local residents have blocked a section of Fazil Iskander Street in central Sukhum. The protest stems from the dire living conditions they have endured for years. According to the residents, the street has not been repaired for a very long time. A few years ago, city services dug up the already deteriorating road to lay communications, promising to lay new asphalt but failing to follow through. As a result, residents are now dealing with constant dust from passing cars, mud during rainy or wet weather, and deep potholes and ruts.
Yuri Kvitsinia, representative of the public organisation "Ахеикурхара" (Akheikurkhara), expressed concerns about the preservation of the Abkhaz language in a conversation with "Aiashara."
For years, citizens and scholars have raised alarms over the declining use of the Abkhaz state language. Kvitsinia noted that speaking Abkhaz has become unfashionable at official events and within families. Despite the "State Language Law," many government leaders have stopped using the language.
The number of Abkhaz speakers continues to dwindle annually. Kvitsinia criticised the government for addressing the issue only during election periods with numerous ineffective meetings and discussions, resulting in no tangible actions to preserve the language.
The Abkhazia Transfer Drivers Community, in collaboration with taxi drivers, companies, tourism firms, and tour guides, has launched a charity initiative. This campaign aims to support the socially disadvantaged families of those who died in the 1992-1993 Patriotic War of the Abkhaz People (Georgian-Abkhazian War), as well as the families of those who perished in the line of duty in the border areas of the Gal District and the Kodor Gorge.
We started a new informative series on social media called ‘Abkhazia Through Time,’ where we explore the rich history and significant events that have shaped Abkhazia and its people. You can read the 5 posts we have made so far by clicking on the images.
At AbkhazWorld, we aim to continue producing VIDEO content about Abkhazia. However, we are currently facing software deficiencies and need to extend some subscriptions. Due to these issues, we have had to pause our video production efforts. ne of the most urgently needed programs is Final Cut Pro. If you would like to help us resume our video projects, you can provide financial support through one of the methods listed on our SUPPORT AW page. Thank you for your assistance.
While Aslan Bzhania tours the country, attempting to deceive the electorate ahead of the upcoming elections, the state security service is unabashedly erecting an iron fence (with double rows of spikes) around the government building complex.
On 31 May, President Aslan Bzhania visited the Kaldahuara and Sukhum boarding schools. However, this was his first visit in nearly five years of his presidency, despite never having visited these institutions on Children's Day or any other occasion.
The Parliament has approved the National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia's report for 2023, presented by Bank Chairman Beslan Barateliya. The total registered authorised capital of credit organizations increased by 14.5%. The consolidated balance sheet currency of credit organizations grew by 2.2 billion rubles (approximately $24.2 million) in 2023, reaching 19.5 billion rubles (approximately $214.5 million).
Foreign capital accounted for 14.6% (82.5 million rubles, approximately $907,500) of the total paid-up authorized capital of credit organizations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia has responded to a statement by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze regarding his desire to reintegrate Abkhazia and South Ossetia into Georgia.
"It is evident that such populist statements are made in the run-up to the upcoming parliamentary elections and are primarily aimed at the domestic audience. Any attempts by the Georgian leadership to reintegrate the Republic of Abkhazia into Georgia are utterly futile," the statement from the MFA of Abkhazia reads.
The Abkhazian Parliament has amended the "Citizenship Law" to enhance transparency and organisation in citizenship matters, as highlighted by Deputy Dmitry Marshan.
Key changes include:
Foreign citizens and stateless persons must now reside continuously in Abkhazia for 25 years after receiving a residence permit or have lived there continuously since 12 October 1999 (the day of the Act of State Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia —ed.) , for ten years.
The law establishes a process for granting citizenship to descendants of Circassians (Adyghes), with their affiliation determined by the president.
May 29 marked the 13th anniversary of Sergey Bagapsh's death (March 4, 1949 - May 29, 2011).
As always, we continue to receive absurd comments from Georgians on our posts.
His Excellency, the Most Distinguished Dr. Professor Giorgi Kuparadze, PhD, MD, DDS, Esq., Nobel Laureate, and Grand Master of All Sciences:
In Georgia, when arguments and knowledge run dry, the emojis fly.
One of the posts that Georgians laugh at the most is just a historical photo… If psychiatrists were to closely examine the mental health of this group and conduct a field study, it would not be surprising for the scientific community to encounter some interesting results.
A group of armed Abkhazians. Abkhazian principality, 1860s.
Photo from the album "Caucasian Types" by Alexander Gudim.
(Source: @PanCaucasus)
Hoping to share another issue with you next Sunday. Have a great day and a wonderful week!