The Boundless Ignorance and Chauvinism of Georgian Nationalism: A so-called Scholar's Disgrace
Kakha N. Kvashilava, an “academic” based at ‘Sokhumi State University’ in Tbilisi.
This is how the university introduces him on its website:
Assistant Professor, PhD in History, Journalist. Born on January 15, 1974, in Sokhumi. Studied at Sokhumi Akaki Tsereteli School #6 from 1980-1991. In 1997, he graduated with distinction from the Faculty of History and Law of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (specialty “History”). In 2009, K. Kvashilava earned a PhD in History. Since 2009, he has been lecturing at Sokhumi State University. K. Kvashilava is the author of 30 scientific works, including two monographs. His scientific interests include the History of Abkhazia, Modern History of the Orient, and Contemporary International Relations. He speaks Georgian (native), English, Russian, and Italian (using a dictionary).
On 8 January 2025, this individual posted a map from 1850 on his personal Facebook page, referencing the label "ABSNE" on the map and perpetuating Pavle Ingorokva’s infamous claims about the Abkhazians.
The post received 679 comments (excluding replies to comments) and was shared 733 times. (Below are some of the comments, translated into English.)
We see no need to respond to these claims, which no sensible person takes seriously anymore, having refuted them many times before. For those interested, links to relevant information are provided below.
+ Georgian Myths vs. Historical Facts: The Reality of Abkhazian History
+ The Ibero-Caucasian hypothesis and the historiography of Abkhazia, by Kevin Tuite
+ Georgian Nationalism: Fabricating History and Denying Abkhazian Identity
+ Exposing Ignorance: Navigating the Sea of Deceptions
+ Rewriting History? A Critique of Modern Georgian Historiography on Abkhazia
+ In Defence of the Homeland: Intellectuals and the Georgian-Abkhazian Conflict, by Bruno Coppieters
Let’s set aside for a moment the fact that this individual, who works at a university, claims to be an expert in history, and graduated from a history faculty, does not know even the most basic truths about the Abkhazians and Georgians. He is also entirely ignorant of the Abkhazians and their language recorded by 17th-century Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi in the lands that comprise modern-day Abkhazia. He even don’t know this very simple fact!
Once again, we are confronted with the boundless ignorance, shamelessness, and chauvinism of Georgian nationalism. These people, incapable of reading a serious research paper or conducting even the simplest historical analysis, are allowed to write books and lecture at universities.
Below, you will find English translations of a selection of the hundreds of comments made on Kakha N. Kvashilava’s post. After reading them, there is only one conclusion: if the so-called educated among them are this ignorant, it is no wonder that the general population fares no better.
Unfortunately, these people live right next door to us, and we are forced to tolerate their presence as neighbours. However, this post and its comments serve as yet another reminder that there is absolutely no way we can coexist with such individuals.
There is nothing new here; the comments below serve as yet another reminder.
SOME COMMENTS
Badri Zambakhidze
Dear friends, Abkhazia (and Abkhazians) have nothing in common with the Apsua-Abaza and never will, because "Apkha" is a Mingrelian word, not Abaza or Apsua (there’s no connection), and it means "the back or upper region," roughly referring to "the area over there." Simply put, in Mingrelian, it’s equivalent to Imereti. Be that as it may, "Apkha" is undoubtedly a Mingrelian word and has nothing to do with Apsua or Abaza-Abazin.
"Apkha-Lazi," "Apkha-Lazeti," means "the Laz from that region" or "the Laz area over there," and there is no way "Apsua" could be the self-designation of the Apkha-Lazi (Abkhazians).
Sardion Zedelashvili
It is essential to reassess the terminology in everything, and the Apsua, who are of Adyghe origin and came from the North Caucasus, should not be called Abkhazians but rather referred to by their proper name!
Ivane Oniani
All of this stems from the fact that we called them Abkhazians and referred to their language, which is a branch of the Circassian-Adyghe linguistic family, as Abkhazian. It is noteworthy that, years ago, they categorically rejected the name "Abkhaz" for themselves and consistently identified as "Apsua." However, they have now realised that this position is politically disadvantageous and have changed their rhetoric.
The territory, which from antiquity was part of Colchis, later Lazica, and finally the Kingdom of Abkhazia—that is, all of western Georgia—where Abkhazian kings such as Leon II, Demetre II, and others built Georgian churches and monasteries, could not have been the home of a foreign lineage that now stubbornly claims, "We have nothing to do with Georgia."
Nukri Kupreishvili
Once, during Ardzinba's time, Shevardnadze gave a speech in Sukhum and mentioned: "When my grandfather came to Abkhazia, he went swimming in the sea in Sukhum, and when he came back, he found that the Abkhazians had stolen his clothes." Ardzinba responded, "An Abkhazian wouldn't have done that because they didn’t live in Sukhum at that time." Eduard [Shevardnadze] laughed but later realised what Ardzinba was trying to imply.
Gia Jinjikhadze
Abkhazia must become Georgianised! People from other ethnic groups can live there, but 80% of the population must be ethnically Georgian! Achieving this depends on our ability, and of course, it would be better if we can do it without bloodshed...
Nino Kurashvili
This is our own fault. "Abkhaz" and "Apsua" are different concepts. Abkhaz is Georgian, while Apsua refers to a North Caucasian tribe that settled in the region at the end of the 19th century.
Ketino Kikiani
The situation we have with the self-proclaimed Aaaaarrrfsua is like an old proverb teaches us: "The wild drove out the tame."
Eka Sibashvili
A true Abkhaz has always been Georgian. Those who live there today are Apsua, one of the nomadic tribes from the North Caucasus, who settled on our land and appropriated the name "Abkhaz," which belongs to the true Georgians.
Marina Kapanadze
They (the Apsua) came down from the mountains.
The ethnonym "Abkhaz" certainly existed, just like Mingrelian, Imeretian, Laz, Meskhetian, and so on.
Sigh...
Vaso Gurgenidze
This doesn’t require much proof—if the Khazars couldn’t penetrate, if the Scythians couldn’t enter, then who on earth are these Apsua and Ossetian skeletons?
Lado Izolda
The so-called Abkhazians and Circassians are Muslims, yet from Tunis to Zugdidi, there isn’t a single mosque!
Nino Datashvili
Where did they even come from, and what is their origin?
Ivane Gobejishvili
How can we stay silent? The term "Abkhaz" was stolen from us while we were asleep…
Gia Tsereteli
Yermolov resettled the Apsua—referred to in Russian as "Apsny"—in Abkhazia to kill the local Georgians. Later, the communists wrote them down as Abkhazians in their passports.
Elguja Bechvaia
The Abkhaz are a Colchian ethnos, just like the Mingrelians, Svans, or Imeretians, so do not confuse them with the Apsua who migrated from the North Caucasus.
No North Caucasian ethnos has the institution of mordoba (chieftaincy). However, we—Abkhazians, Mingrelians, and Svans—did have it!
Perhaps the so-called academic Kakha Kvashilava (and his followers), who openly displays his ignorance on social media despite the abundance of historical records and sources, would like to share this map as well. Nevertheless, we advise him to learn history from reliable historical sources and the works of serious scholars who are experts in their fields.
Davit Medzvelia
There was no such thing as this version of "Abkhaz." These are not the same Abkhazians listed by the kings. Emperor Alexander deported them around 1847, and later, during World War II, others fleeing from the Caucasus joined them. They liked living in Georgia and stayed. Many were resettled this way because someone arranged it.
The Apsua are not Abkhazians—they are a completely different breed and lineage.
Gogi Chokoshvili
Who could doubt that these people have never lived by the sea? If they don’t even have a word for "sea" in their native language or for "boat," what is there to discuss? "Amore" and "Alotka"?
Anna Basa
Well, where else would they be? They are a North Caucasian people, so how could they possibly be in the South Caucasus? They were accepted—be grateful!
Zurab Chkhaidze
It wasn’t just the Apsua—Adyghe, Abshils, and Abazgi also came from the North Caucasus, joined by Armenians, Russians... and the rest, you already know. 🤔
Paata Gulordava
The term "Abkhazia" should be removed from our usage. In the past, if there were Abkhazians, the Russians either exterminated them completely or forced them to flee to Turkey. They cleansed the land of them. Now we are dealing with the Apsua. They claim, "We are Apsua," yet we insist, "No, you are Abkhazians." Why?! A distinction must be made between Apsua and Abkhazian.
It would be better for these people to return to their homeland—to their Abaza or Armenia—just as Aliyev returned the Karabakh population to Armenian Yerevan. These are ruthless, treacherous, and deceitful people. Yesterday, they would burn down every home in Gali, and today, with feigned sorrow, they declare mourning, saying, "Children have died." Really?! They are a hypocritical people. If we were all wiped out together, it would only make them happier.
They already live in darkness, so call their existence whatever you like—it’s already a state of mourning.
Boka Kutateladze
They don’t even have a word for "homeland" in their language—they call it Apsny dagil (the land of Apsny).
Matsne Ghmtitmovenili
All the peoples living in the Caucasus are Georgian tribes!
Merabi Tsintsqiladze
Their parasitic resettlement in Abkhazia began in 1811 by order of the Russian Emperor, with the aim of forming ties with the Abkhazians and turning them against the Georgians. Two centuries later, they succeeded.
Badri Zambakhidze
Mariam Kobakhidze, the "Abkhazification" of Mingrelians took place during the Soviet era—and not just of Mingrelians, but of anyone with a Georgian surname. Today, many such individuals are considered "Abkhazians."
This was achieved, among other methods, by raising generations with a false history, brainwashing them to believe that "Abkhazians" are not Georgians but rather Apsua-Abaza-Abazin people who migrated from the North Caucasus. Their language, Abazin, was falsely named "Abkhazian."
As a result, bearers of authentic Georgian-Abkhazian surnames and migrants from the North Caucasus are now both supposedly "Abkhazians."
George Chinchaladze
Mariam Kobakhidze, they weren’t "Abkhazified," dear; they were written down as Apsua. Abkhazians are just as much a Georgian tribe as representatives of other regions. It’s just that, being a smaller ethnic group, they weren’t drafted into the army, and on top of that, they were given land. Then what happened aligns with the Georgian proverb: "If you let a pig’s flea sit on your foot, it will climb up to your head."
Who has ever heard of an Apsua being a Kvirkvelia, Aplia, Bzhania, Kvitinia, and so on? Of course, at some point, people with specific surnames were written down as so-called Abkhazians, and now, just like Kokoity, they’re shouting, "Independent Abkhazia is our country!"
Fr. Giorgi Abdaladze
Abkhazia was handed over by a Polish fox and an Armenian, but it is our fault that it has not been reclaimed to this day. We continue to give it away to our enemies by legitimising their rights with just a few words. We call ourselves Georgians and them Abkhazians, even though they refer to themselves as Apsua.
We are the Abkhazians, not them. Abkhazians should live in Abkhazia, while the Apsua belong in the Krasnodar region.
Gela Kvantaliani
They are Ubykhs and Apsua! These tribes lived in the northern part of the Krasnodar region and had no connection to the Caucasus! There is still a small town called Apsny there today! Everyone knows well where the Russians resettled them from to create a fifth column in Georgia! 👹