Warning from Veterans from Kabardino-Balkaria and Ossetia Against Calls for War Beyond Georgian Borders
Kabardian (Circassian) volunteers in Abkhazia
SUKHUM / AQW'A -- In recent statements, the Kabardino-Balkarian Public Organization "Veterans of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia 1992-1993" and "The Union of Abkhaz Volunteers of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania" have issued a warning to those who have been calling for and inciting the Georgian authorities to initiate a war outside of Georgia.
The veterans have reminded those who call for war of the devastating consequences of such actions by sharing a brief history lesson.
The statements reads as follows:
Statement of the Kabardino-Balkarian Regional Public Organization "Veterans of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia 1992-1993"
We, the veterans and volunteers of the Patriotic War of the people of Abkhazia, want to warn those who have recently called for and incited the Georgian authorities to unleash a war outside Georgia. War is, first and foremost, innocent bloodshed, and only then a means of solving political problems!
For those who call for war, we offer a brief history lesson. In 1992, the Shevardnadze junta, having drowned Rustaveli Avenue in blood in Tbilisi, expelled the legitimately elected first President of Georgia, and then shed a sea of innocent blood of its Mingrelian people before beginning its bloody actions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The result of all this was painfully obvious. Moreover, in 1992, Abkhazia did not even raise the issue of secession from Georgia – the Abkhazians offered to sign an agreement regulating their future life together. But, just like those calling for war now, the illegal Georgian authorities chose war instead of negotiation.
In 2008, another Georgian leader committed the same inadequate actions, and thanks to the goodwill of the Russian leadership, Georgia was not dissolved as a state. By the way, in 1993, as part of the Abkhazian Army, we went to Tbilisi. Vladislav Ardzinba turned us back, and only thanks to his authority did we did not go forward.
We have never fought with the Georgian people; we fought against Georgian fascists. We appeal to the fraternal Georgian people – please stop your neo-fascists from acting unreasonably. We are the victors, and we are against war because we know how to fight, but we do not want to shed even the blood of our enemies. We hope for prudence and that a brief historical reflection will prevent the beginning of the end for Georgia as a separate state.
Chairman of the Board of the Kabardino-Balkarian Regional Public Organization "Veterans of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia 1992-1993," Timur Shordanov, G. Nalchik.
Statement of the Union of Abkhaz Volunteers of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.
On the streets and squares of Tbilisi, calls have begun once again to organize new military campaigns against South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We, veterans-volunteers of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia, appeal to the peace-loving Georgian people. In 1992 and 1993, we fought not against the Georgian people, but against gangs of marauders and murderers who had previously drowned Georgia itself in blood.
We remind those who have a short memory that if Abkhazia was able to repel the troops of the State Council of Georgia without support in the 1990s, then at the beginning of the 21st century, with the full support of the Russian Federation, the people of Abkhazia will solve any military problem. The unleashing of war is not only contrary to the national interests of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but also to the interests of Georgia itself.
We express hope for the victory of sound, peace-loving forces in Georgia.
Chairman of the Union of Abkhaz Volunteers of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Igor Kokoev. G. Vladikavkaz.