Sukhum and the Abkhazians in the Light of 16th Century Ottoman Documents, by Habat Şogan
Sukhum and the Abkhazians in the Light of 16th Century Ottoman Documents, by Habat Şogan
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This article first published on Apsuara.org in Turkish and titled "16. Yüzyıl Osmanlı Belgeleri Işığında Sohum ve Abazalar"
The article discusses the relations of the Ottoman Empire with Abkhazia in the 16th century, based on records found in Ottoman archival documents. It covers topics such as the records of Abkhazians in the Ottoman palace, the pirate activities of the Abkhazians, the Abkhazian coasts, and trade between Sukhum [Sohum-kale] and the Ottomans, among others.
The Sukhum [Sohumkale in Ottoman -ed.] fortress, referred to as the "key to the Black Sea" along with Faş (Poti) and Batum in Ottoman archival documents [1], has always maintained a significant role in the Ottoman Empire's interactions with the Caucasus. Since the 16th century, Sukhum and its environs, frequently mentioned in numerous Ottoman records in conjunction with the Abkhazians [Ottomans called the Abkhazians as ‘Abaza’ -ed.], have been of great military and commercial importance to the Ottoman state.
The first records of the Abkhazians as "palace members" in the Ottoman Court date back to the first half of the 1500s, evident in a document transferred from the Topkapi Palace to the Ottoman Archives [2]. This archival document lists the clothing needs of palace residents selected from Albanians and similar nations.
The boundaries of the Abkhazian land, starting from the limit of Mingrelian territories, are confirmed by information in Ottoman archival documents. In a decree mentioned in the Divan-ı Hümayun [The Imperial Council] Mühimme defters [register] numbered 14-1 in the Ottoman Archives [3], it is noted that a person discussed in a correspondence with Iran was found, upon investigation, to be from the Abkhazian region, beyond the lands of the Dadian Melik.
"Official Abkhazia": What Is It and What Does It Mean for Our Republic? By Indira Bartsits
The number of internet users around the globe increases every second. Abkhazia gained access to the global network in 1998, thanks to the Soros Foundation's Abkhazian branch, which facilitated satellite internet access for its population. This delayed entry into the digital world was a consequence of the republic's lack of international recognition and the ongoing unresolved Georgian-Abkhazian conflict.
The first Internet connection in the state information agency "Apsnypress" was established on October 18, 2001, a milestone made possible by enthusiast Oleg Lobanov (Telecommunication Company "A-Telecom").
Liana Kvarchelia: "They Called Us the Gudauta Separatists"
Ekho Kavkaza | At a meeting with the heads of international NGO offices, Inal Ardzinba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, cited information from the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) website. He highlighted that projects in Abkhazia aim to "counter the harmful influence of the Kremlin" and "restore Georgia's territorial integrity." The minister expressed concern that UN agencies are misinforming the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry about the objectives of their projects. He announced that new approaches for their coordination would be reflected in a decree by President Aslan Bzhania. Liana Kvarchelia, a Board of Directors member at the Abkhazian NGO "Center for Humanitarian Programs," commented on the Ministry's statement.
– Liana, the Abkhazian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a statement regarding its stance towards international NGO activities. What are your thoughts on this statement, and how did it impact you?
– I would like to point out that the minister's interview referred to the USAID website, which presents their perspective on conflict resolution and engagement with Abkhazia. I must say that I also resent the way USAID formulates its goals in relation to work in Abkhazia. If their intent is to support peacebuilding and facilitate normalisation of relations in the region, then they must embrace the principle of 'do no harm' and refrain from politicising the humanitarian and development sectors. The way USAID frames its goals and objectives is utterly unacceptable. It represents a biased, one-sided approach, detrimental to the real goals of peacebuilding. Consequently, USAID's bias, as stated on their website, jeopardises the work of the UN agencies and international NGOs in Abkhazia. I believe they need to provide feedback to USAID and point out that such biased, and, in my view, aggressive approach certainly is not helping to address humanitarian or developmental challenges in Abkhazia. We have long strived to transition from focusing solely on humanitarian issues to development goals in Abkhazia and supporting various development projects. When UN agencies finally embraced this, it turned out that the political framework USAID enforces on its funding creates significant problems.
Inal Ardzinba Meets with ABHAZFED's New Chairman, Levent Atryshba
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― Inal Ardzinba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, recently held an online meeting with Levent Atryshba, who was recently elected as the Chairman of the Federation of Abkhaz Cultural Centers (ABHAZFED) during its VIII Congress in Izmit, Türkiye, on November 12. Ibrahim Avidzba, the Plenipotentiary Representative of Abkhazia in Türkiye, also participated in this meeting, conducted at the Media Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia.
Minister Ardzinba congratulated Levent Atryshba on his election and wished him a successful and productive term, emphasising the benefit to their historical homeland. This information was provided by the Ministry's press service.
Levent Atryshba, in turn, expressed his gratitude to the Minister for the congratulations and went on to elaborate on the Federation's strategic plans and immediate goals.
Abkhazian Opposition Highlights Energy Sector Failures and Corruption
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― At a recent press conference in Sukhum, representatives of various opposition organisations in Abkhazia expressed their views on the challenges facing the energy sector. They addressed the parliamentary discussion about the government's request to allocate 900 million rubles (around $10M) for energy imports from Russia and outlined conditions for leasing the "Drop Hydroelectric Power Station-2," part of the "IngurHPP" complex.
Adgur Ardzinba, leader of the "Abkhaz People's Movement," and notable figures such as Temur Gulia from the veterans' organisation "Aruaa," Aslan Bartsits of the "Forum of the National Unity of Abkhazia" political party, and Lasha Shamba from the "Our Capital" public organisation, offered their insights.
The Government's Destructive Agenda
Ardzinba sharply criticised the government's management of Abkhazia's energy sector and state affairs, accusing it of undermining Abkhazian statehood through destructive policies, lack of transparency, and selling out strategic assets to foreign interests. He highlighted the absence of reforms and development programs and the secretive nature of decision-making processes.
Film
"Three Brothers" (with Turkish Subtitles - Türkçe Altyazılı)
This film is shot in the Abaza language, one of the world's most complex languages. The unique Abaza language faces the threat of extinction, and this film is a landmark in human history as the first film made in the Abaza language.
Director: Apsa Aslan (Aslan Apsov)
Producer: Mikua Murat (Murat Mukov) - on behalf of Alashara Foundation
Cast: Kuapsirgen Zurab (Zurab Kopsergenov), Huidz Amarbiy (Amarbiy Khujev) ,Shay Artur (Artur Shayev)
Translated to Turkish by: Хlапlатl Bekir (Bekir Yılmaz)
Subtitles by: Агача Тахlа (Taha Baygüneş)
Synopsis: Living in a dilapidated shack, three brothers eke out a living as shepherds for meager wages. One moonlit night, their only horse - a legacy from their father - is stolen. Resolute to punish the thief, they set out on a quest that becomes the first step in a long and perilous journey.
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