Diaspora Concerns: Abkhazian Representatives from Türkiye Raise Alarm on 'Apartment Law'
In a recent press conference held in Sukhum, representatives of the Abkhazian diaspora in Türkiye voiced their concerns against the proposed apartment law.
SUKHUM / AQW'A — In a recent press conference held in Sukhum, representatives of the Abkhazian diaspora in Türkiye voiced their concerns against the proposed apartment law. The representatives shared their apprehensions about a potential demographic shift in Abkhazia, accompanied by a loss of its native language and rich national culture.
During the conference, three prominent figures from the Abkhazian diaspora in Türkiye - Irfan Akhuachba, Yavuz Gumba, and Saniye Yetluk - officially announced their alignment with the opposition against this legislation. These individuals are part of the "Abkhazia" initiative group, which strongly challenges the proposition of allowing foreign nationals the entitlement to own residential properties in Abkhazia.
On 31 July 2023, in a concerted effort to spread awareness, they orchestrated a public campaign within the Turkish diaspora. Their campaign initially accumulated 1,864 signatures, a symbolic gesture referencing historical events. These signed documents were later transported to Abkhazia and presented to the parliament speaker, Lashe Ashuba. The movement's momentum didn’t stop there. In its subsequent phase, it garnered support from fifty distinct organisations that represent both the Abkhazian and broader Caucasian diasporas.
The collective message to the deputies of the People's Assembly of Abkhazia was lucid: "It's evident to any discerning individual that apartments, fully financed by foreign investments, constructed by overseas companies, employing international labour, and ultimately marketed to foreign clientele, will inflict irreparable harm on Abkhazia's demographic fabric. In the long-term perspective, such a move could jeopardise the hard-won political advancements and authority of Abkhazia."
Promoting Sympathy for Abkhazia Worldwide, by Frédéric Delorca
The renowned French leftist monthly Le Monde Diplomatique has just published (in its September 2023 issue) a review of the memoirs of former Abkhazian fighter Bekir Ashuba, released by Editions du Cygne last March.
The reviewer, Loïc Ramirez, pays tribute to this work of memory, noting it as “an opportunity to learn more about the relationships within the Circassian families (...) and to discover a conflict largely unknown in Europe.”
Abkhazia is not well-known in France, and yet, in many ways, its history should resonate with the French people. A victim of massive deportation by the Russian Empire in 1864, followed by forced assimilation into Georgia during Stalin's time, it has all the hallmarks of the Gaulish village from Asterix, the famous comic known across the whole world. After achieving a historic military victory in 1992 against the nationalist militias of the Tbilisi government, this country of fewer than 300,000 inhabitants managed to maintain de facto independence for 16 years, until 2008, under an international embargo, without assistance from anyone (since no country dared to recognise Abkhazian independence). This is an absolutely unique case in modern history.
The opening of Sukhum airport is expected in 2025
SUKHUM / AQW'A — The Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Abkhazia, Teimuraz Khishba, announced the anticipated inauguration of the Sukhum International Airport during a prominent tourism forum in Kazakhstan.
Minister Khishba remarked, "The geography of tourists will expand."
He further elaborated on plans for the Sukhum International Airport during his presentation at the first international tourism forum titled "Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development in an Unstable World" held in Kazakhstan.
Currently, the Abkhazian delegation, led by Khishba, is in Aktau participating in the aforementioned forum and the International Congress of Tour Operators themed "Transformation of the International Tourist Market in Modern Conditions. Prospects for Development and Partnership." Other members of the Abkhazian delegation include Deputy Minister of Tourism, Dmitry Zantaria, and the chairman of the Abkhaz-Russian Tourism Association, Tarash Khutaba.
"In 2025, we intend to inaugurate the Sukhum International Airport named after the first president of Abkhazia, Vladislav Ardzinba. I am confident this development will expand opportunities for our visitors", emphasized Khishba, noting Russia's crucial role in ensuring Abkhazia's security and its socio-economic progress.
Remembering Abaghba Bahadir: The Hero Abkhazia Gained from the Diaspora
Born in 1967 in Eskişehir, Türkiye, Abaghba Bahadir (Özbağ), was among the vanguard group of 33 who journeyed from Türkiye to defend Abkhazia from Georgian occupation.
Allying with the Shamil Basayev battalion, Bahadir played pivotal roles in the Gagra, Shroma, and Kuachara operations, marking significant victories in the Abkhazian Liberation War. Tragically, after sustaining severe injuries on November 30, 1992, and following a relentless recovery, Bahadir returned to the front only to lose his life during the decisive attack on Sukhum on September 20. He rests in Gudauta.
Scientist and Valiant Warrior: The Legacy of Adgur Inal-Ipa
On 18 September, 1993, during the Abkhazian army's offensive to liberate Sukhum, a tragic loss was suffered. Among the 23 fallen was Adgur Inal-Ipa, a figure of great promise and intellect, who was posthumously honoured with the Order of Leon.
Before becoming a name synonymous with valour, Adgur Inal-Ipa started his military odyssey in the nascent phase of the Abkhazian Patriotic War, serving under the esteemed Hero of Abkhazia, Mushni Khvartskia, at the Gumista front.
Stepping into the vanguard as a defender of his homeland, Adgur Inal-Ipa—descendant of the esteemed Abkhazian historian Shalva Inal-Ipa—demonstrated both strategic acumen and practical expertise. He was instrumental in designing fortified positions, carving anti-tank trenches in the Kutyshkha hill region, and leading reconnaissance missions. By October 1992, inspired and supported by Mushni Khvartskia, Adgur, collaborating with a select team, embarked on an ambitious project: to devise weaponry specifically aimed at neutralising enemy surface assets.
In Memory of Yuri Voronov: Abkhazia's Pillar of Truth and Knowledge
Twenty-eight years ago, on September 11, 1995, Abkhazia lost a beacon of its cultural and historical heritage: the eminent archaeologist, Caucasologist, and political stalwart, Dr. Yuri Voronov.
Born in the village of Tsabal on May 8, 1941, Voronov was more than just a renowned scientist, celebrated during the Soviet era. He embodied the spirit of Abkhazian victory and independence.
His academic journey started in Sukhum at Secondary School №3, culminating in a degree in Egyptology from Leningrad State University in 1965. A beacon of knowledge and passion, Voronov, upon graduating, promptly returned to his homeland. He started as a junior researcher, both at the Society for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Abkhazia and the Sukhum Research Institute of Tourism. His trajectory led him to roles such as the senior researcher at the Institute of Tourism under the auspices of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, and the lead archaeologist at the Abkhazian Institute of Humanitarian Research of the Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia.
Abkhaz-Adyghe Literary Festival "Rhymes on Ritsa" Concludes at Lake Ritsa
SUKHUM / AQW'A — The Abkhaz-Adyghe Literary Festival "Rhymes on Ritsa" has come to an end at Lake Ritsa. Participants recited poems in Abkhaz and Circassian languages.
Zarina Kanukova, the project's author, a renowned poet, public figure, and distinguished journalist of Kabardino-Balkaria, held a drawing with the names of attendees. Three poets were selected, whose creative evenings will be held next year in Sukhum, Maykop, and Nalchik.
Abkhazian poet Abzag Kolba, who recently, along with poetess Shazina Bganba, became an awardee of the "Rhymes on Ritsa" festival, is set to perform in Nalchik in March as part of the "Readings on Cheget" project. Another Abkhazian poet, Dmitry Gabelia, will meet readers in Adygea at the Rufabgo waterfalls in June. Meanwhile, a creative session with readers by poetess Susanna Bagova from Maykop is scheduled to occur in Sukhum during the next "Rhymes on Ritsa" festival.