In Memory of Murat Yagan: 16 December 1915 - 19 December 2013

April 9, 2001 (Published in "Respublika Abkhazia", Sukhum, Abkhazia, 21-22 April 2001.)

We are approaching the house of Murat Yagan which is situated on a hill overlooking the Canadian town of Vernon. At the threshold of his home we are met by Gregor who is a student of the local college and a member of the Kebzeh community. He is addressing me with words in the Abkhazian language, “Bziala waabeyt!” meaning “Welcome!” I enter a spacious home which is full of guests who have come especially to meet me.

Times are changing. Internet has become the key resource for getting first hand information. Especially for countries like Abkhazia, living beyond international recognition and an information embargo, online resources become more crucial.

SUKHUM / AQW'A ― The project of the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry site MARHABAABKHAZIA ("Greetings, Abkhazia!") is the first internet source about Abkhazia in the Arabic language. The site contains collection of articles, video and photo materials on the history, culture and nature of Abkhazia.

The purpose of this project is to strengthen and broaden cultural exchange between the Republic of Abkhazia and 65 million Arabic-speaking people by posting in the world web different materials about Abkhazia in the Arabic language.

I am not sure, but presumably so as not to annoy Georgia. Perhaps to Putin. The answer to this question was clear until a few years ago; it was unthinkable for Turkey to legitimise Abkhazia, which had separated from Georgia, as long as Turkey’s own troubles with the separatist Kurdish movement continued. In Turkey’s eyes, the Abkhazians were separatists. Nation-state paranoia.

Taklama -- In the ongoing row over whether local authorities in Abkhazia’s Gali, Ochamchira and Tquarchal Districts have been handing out passports to Georgian residents too liberally, Stanislav Lakoba has been fired as Secretary of the Security Council on 28 October. His replacement is veteran politician Nugzar Ashuba, who was Speaker of Parliament before suffering a second-round defeat in the 2012 elections.