Intellectuals Demands Rejection of "Apartment Law" in Abkhazia
SUKHUM / AQW'A ― In a recently released statement, the Union of Intellectuals of Abkhazia has voiced strong opposition to a controversial draft "Apartment Law" currently under consideration by the Abkhazian Parliament. This proposed legislation, commonly referred to as the "Apartment Law," would permit foreign nationals to purchase property in Abkhazia, raising significant concerns about the potential impact on national sovereignty and the socio-economic fabric of the country.
The Union of Intellectuals has called for a complete moratorium on the sale of apartments to foreigners and urged the government and parliament to reconsider the implications of such a policy.
The translation of the full statement reads as follows:
Statement of the Union of Intellectuals of Abkhazia
The Union of Intellectuals of Abkhazia expresses serious concern about the current socio-political situation in the country, caused by the submission to the National Assembly - the Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia - of the draft law "On measures to improve the socio-economic development of the Ochamchira, Tquarchal, and Gal districts." As is known, members of the relevant committee under the leadership of R[ezo]. Zantaria decided to submit this draft law for parliamentary consideration. This draft law proposes to allocate 150 hectares for a pilot project, with a total of 10,000 units planned for sale to foreign nationals.
The leadership, actively promoting this draft law, has not managed to clearly explain to the Abkhazian public the economic or any other benefits to the state and the people from the mass construction and sale of apartments to foreign nationals. It is clear that builders are working on this, as well as those in Abkhazia who are directly linked to the implementation of this project. Benefiting both potential buyers - the draft law suggests making the cost of apartments in Abkhazia lower than in the neighbouring foreign markets, considering Abkhazia a promising place for investment. But what benefits will the mass sale of apartments bring to the people of Abkhazia? The answer remains unclear.
It is also important to note the negative opinion of the President of Russia on the topic of selling apartments to Russians. In Russia, such sales are categorically prohibited. Why then should Abkhazia be an exception? This policy is suicidal.
Before submitting such large-scale, fateful draft laws for parliamentary approval, everything should have been thoroughly and comprehensively studied by independent experts, along with political, socio-economic, and environmental assessments and calculations. None of this has been done. The leadership's haste in pushing for the adoption of this draft law is evident, despite the evident absence of benefit for the people and the country and the apparent threats its implementation could bring.
We welcome attracting investments, building new hotels, and other tourism facilities in the country. All this is important for the economy, for strengthening and giving it more self-sufficiency. The members of the presidium of the Union of Intellectuals of Abkhazia have already had the opportunity to directly express to the top leadership their serious concerns about the possible adoption of this law. We once again appeal to the leadership with a call to withdraw this draft law as it poses serious threats to the Abkhazian way of life. We also appeal to the deputies of the National Assembly - the country's Parliament - with a call to reject the draft law. History and the people will not forgive such reckless decisions, especially those fraught with harmful consequences for the people!
The Union of Intellectuals of Abkhazia insists on the Parliament's deputies not only rejecting the draft law but also adopting a law establishing a FULL MORATORIUM on the SALE OF APARTMENTS IN ABKHAZIA TO FOREIGNERS, which is actively promoted in the interests of foreign developers.
The leadership of the country should pay the most serious attention to issues requiring urgent action, such as the demographic problem, the problem of the rapidly deteriorating status of the state language, problems of drug addiction, traffic accidents, ecology, and other issues requiring the closest attention.
We once again appeal to the country's leadership, to the National Assembly - the Parliament of the country - to adopt the right decision that meets the interests of all the people of Abkhazia!
Nodar Chanba (Нодар Ҷанба), Nugzar Logua (Ныгәзар Логәуа), Viacheslav Chirikba (Виачеслав Чырыкба), Guram Amkuab (Гәырам Амқәаб), Valery Kvarchia (Валери Кәарҷиа), Gennady Alamia (Геннади Аламиа), Valery Biguaa (Валери Бигәаа), Yuri Anchabadze (Иури Анчабаӡе), Lily Hagba (Лили Ҳагба), Denis Chachkhalia (Денис Чачхалиа), Father Darat (Dorofey Dbar) (Аб Дараҭ (Дорофеи Дбар)), Aslan Avidzhba (Аслан Аҩӡба), Oktay Chkotua (Октаи Чкотуа), Aslanbek Mirzoev (Асланбек Мирзоев), Soslan Salakaia (Салаҟаиа Сослан), Anatoly Lagulaa (Анатоли Лагәлаа), Batal Japua (Баҭал Џьапуа), Adgur Kakoba (Адгур Какоба), Tali Japua (Ҭали Џьапуа), Sima Dbar (Сима Дбар), Alina Achba (Алина Ачба), Marina Bartsits (Марина Барцыц), Gunda Sakania (Гәында Сақаниа), Astanda Hashba (Асҭанда Ҳашба), Arda Ashuba (Арда Ашәба), Inna Hajimba (Инна Ҳаџьымба), Svetlana Karsaya (Светлана Қәарсаиа), Elena Labahua (Елена Лабахуа), Madina Argun (Мадина Аргәын), Maya Kvitsinia (Маиа Кәыҵниаҧҳа), Shazina Dzhapua (Шьазина Џьапуа), Dbar Mrana (Дбар Мрана), Zaira Biguaa (Заира Бигәаа), Maya Kvitsinia (Маиа Кәыҵниаҧҳа), Angela Tsushba (Цушба Анжела), Hashba Kama (Ҳашба Кама), See Astanda (Дбар Асҭанда), Elena Giakonia (Елена Џьакониа), Albina Ankvab (Альбина Анқәаб), Ilona Agrba (Агрба Илона), Jindjal Kama (Џьынџьал Кама), Alina Zhichha (Алина Жьиҧҳа), Alias Ezugba (Алиас Езыгәба), Astamura Kvitsinia (Асҭамыр Кәыҵниа), Indzhia Dzhambul (Инџьгьиа Џьамбул), Abzagu Akalgba (Абзагә Аҟалӷьба), Jopua Inal (Џьопуа Инал), Diamond Step (Алмас Шьаҿашьаҿа), Ruslan Chamalia (Чхамалиа Руслан), Esma Todua (Есма Ҭодуа), Madonna Julia (Мадонна Ҧлиа), Naala Bartsits (Наала Барцыц).