ABHAZFED Issues Statement on Controversial Pitsunda Datcha Transfer
The new ABHAZFED board, headed by President Atryshba Levent Belin, took office after the September 12th congress.
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― The Federation of Abkhaz Associations in Türkiye (ABHAZFED) has released a statement regarding the transfer of the Pitsunda state datcha to Russia, to be conveyed to the Presidency and the Speaker of the Parliament of Abkhazia.
In the statement, which lists the problematic clauses of the agreement in terms of Abkhazia's sovereignty rights, ABHAZFED expressed the following concerns:
"The current state of the agreement, which disregards our sovereignty rights to such an extent, has caused deep disappointment and distress within the Federation of Abkhaz Associations' board and competent authorities. We believe our diaspora shares this disappointment and distress.
We hold the conviction that any agreement that questions the concept of a fully independent Abkhazia, along with all legal regulations concerning all Abkhaz people regardless of where they live, should be implemented through a broad consensus. Far from presenting this crucial agreement to the public within the framework of democratic criteria like transparency, participation, and pluralism for discussion, we have been unable to access either the original agreement text or its Turkish translation, despite all efforts, since it was last brought up a week ago.
The most painful aspect is that this significant agreement, determining our fate, was legalised in a midnight operation at 05:45 AM. The Abkhazians have always been a sensible and democratic people, and the enactment of laws at dawn is not a common practice in democratically governed countries.
As we have always proudly stated, honour comes before life for our people. No economic reason can justify bargaining our independence and sovereignty rights.
We convey our respects to our historical homeland with the hope of sharing explanations from the Presidency and the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia regarding the reasons for this agreement with the Turkish diaspora."
Levent Belin
On Behalf of the Board of Directors and Presidents' Council
President, Federation of Abkhaz Associations
ABHAZFED plays a vital role in Türkiye, encompassing 21 distinct associations. These associations are dedicated to uniting members of the Abkhaz-Abaza diaspora, fostering the preservation of their ethno-cultural identity, and maintaining ties with their historical homeland.
Türkiye, as Abkhazia's second largest trade partner, also hosts the world's largest Abkhaz diaspora, estimated at around 500,000 individuals.