Megan Starr | Special to Abkhaz World

Before entering Abkhazia, I tried obtaining a little bit of information about the place. I was mainly concerned about border crossing procedures and my safety as a solo female traveler, but I also tried researching a little bit about the culture and Abkhaz people in general. My searches came up empty.

Information is valuable as long as it is shared. AbkhazWorld.com has been working in line with this belief since 1 January 2009. One of the most important goals for AW has been to create an informational resource about Abkhazia and the Abkhazians especially for non-Abkhazians wishing to learn more about the heritage, culture, and history of the Abkhazian people.

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.