Abkhazian Public Figures and Veterans Thank Türkiye's MPs for Raising Abkhazia's Isolation

SUKHUM / AQW'A — Two days after a cross-party group of Turkish MPs used a press conference at the Grand National Assembly to call for the recognition of Abkhaz passports and the reopening of direct sea and air links with Abkhazia, more than fifty Abkhazian public figures have replied in kind. Their statement, dated 7 August and signed from Sukhum, thanks the deputies by name-group, the journalists and the wider Turkish public who have taken up the campaign launched by Abkhazian and Circassian diaspora activists in Türkiye, and frames thirty years of international non-recognition as a punishment imposed on a people for having defended its homeland.

The signatories include sitting and former deputies of the Abkhazian Parliament, veterans and Heroes of the 1992 to 1993 Patriotic War, two former Human Rights Commissioners, clergy, historians and civil society figures. AbkhazWorld publishes the statement in full below.

Statement in Support of the Campaign by Activists of the Abkhazian and Circassian Diaspora in Türkiye

Dear Abkhazian and Circassian brothers and sisters, descendants of the peoples of the Caucasus who, through no choice of your own, find yourselves beyond the borders of your historic homeland!

In Abkhazia, the campaign 'End Abkhazia's Isolation!', organised by an initiative group made up of activists from the Abkhazian and Circassian diaspora, has been received with hope and gratitude.

In all the years since the war, the international community, with the exception of Russia and a number of other states that have recognised Abkhazia as an independent country, has pursued a policy of non-recognition and isolation towards Abkhazia. Having withstood the brutal war of 1992 to 1993 and overcome the destruction that followed it, Abkhazia has found itself under international economic and political blockade, which severely limits the country's development in many areas. As a result, in breach of international standards, the citizens of Abkhazia have been denied their fundamental rights and freedoms: the right to identity, to health, to education, to freedom of movement, and to maintaining family and kinship ties beyond Abkhazia's borders.

To this day, the international community continues its policy of isolating Abkhazia, which has effectively become an indefinite punishment of the Abkhazian people for their resolve to stand against Georgian aggression and to defend their homeland. For many years, prosperous nations have looked on with indifference at the injustice inflicted upon the Abkhazian people.

Thirty years of international isolation, which in essence amounts to discrimination against its people, has, sadly, become an instrument of pressure in the hands of democratic states.

In light of this, we regard the efforts of our diaspora as a call upon the Turkish government to break its unjust silence and put an end to Abkhazia's isolation.

The people of Abkhazia join this campaign to end our nation's international isolation with genuine enthusiasm. We firmly believe that our entire diaspora, whatever differences may exist over organisational matters, will be able to unite around this landmark initiative in the pursuit of justice for the people of Abkhazia.

We deeply value the efforts of the campaign's organisers, who have succeeded in raising the question of ending Abkhazia's international isolation to such a high level.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the deputies of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, to journalists, to members of the public, and to everyone who supports the restoration of the rights of the people of Abkhazia!

To the people of Abkhazia, and to all people of good will who add their voice in support of justice, we wish success, peace, goodness and prosperity!

This statement was written on the initiative of Abkhazia's public organisations.

List of signatories, in alphabetical order:

• Almaskhan Ardzinba, deputy of the People's Assembly, the Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia (6th convocation)
• Victoria Ardzinba, lecturer at Abkhazian State University, director of the 'Harmoniya' psychological and educational centre
• Dmitry Ardzinba, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (6th convocation), veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), holder of the Order of Leon
• Archimandrite Dorofei (Dbar), Doctor of Theology, associate professor at Abkhazian State University
• Diana Akhba, head of the department of ancient history at the Abkhazian State Museum
• Lyudmila Achba, lawyer at the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes (CHP), advocate
• Alisa Agrba, civic activist
• Lia Agrba, civic activist
• Aida Bazba, journalist
• Rita Basaria, veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993)
• Inna Barchan, chair of the public council under the Office of the Commissioner for Children's Rights
• Valery Bganba, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (1st and 4th convocations), Speaker of the 5th convocation, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Abkhazia
• Ekaterina Bebia, journalist, writer, professor at Abkhazian State University
• Laura Benia, staff member of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes
• Akhra Bzhania, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (5th convocation), veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993)
• Batal Bzhania, businessman
• Madina Biguaa, artist
• Tali Dzhopua, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (2nd convocation), veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), Hero of Abkhazia
• Madina Gartskia, accountant
• Said Gezerdava, lawyer, member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes
• David Gobechia, journalist, civic activist
• Dzhemal Gogia, lawyer, human rights defender
• Andzor Goov, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (3rd convocation), veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), holder of the Order of Leon, former chairman of Adyghe Khase of the Republic of Abkhazia
• Guram Gumba, Doctor of Historical Sciences, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (4th convocation)
• Tsiza Gumba, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (2nd convocation), director of the public organisation [name unclear in source, see note]
• Ilya Gunia, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (6th convocation), veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), holder of the Order of Leon
• Felix Dautia, former head of the Administration of New Athos, veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), holder of the Order of Leon
• Gunda Dzhenia, veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), awarded the medal 'For Valour'
• Arda Inal-Ipa, member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes
• Naala Inal-Ipa, Candidate of Sociological Sciences
• Liana Kvarchelia, member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes
• Givi Kvarchia, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (6th convocation), veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993)
• Diana Kerselian, deputy director of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes
• Aslan Kobakhia, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (5th convocation), veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), Hero of Abkhazia
• Batal Kobakhia, director of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (4th convocation), veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), Hero of Abkhazia
• Garri Kokaia, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (6th convocation)
• Yulia Lagvilava, staff member of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes
• Aida Ladaria, Candidate of Philological Sciences
• Raul Lolua, head of the regional public organisation 'Our Home Abkhazia', veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), holder of the Order of Leon
• Asida Lomia, chair of the Children's Fund of the Republic of Abkhazia
• Dmitry Marshan, first Human Rights Commissioner of Abkhazia
• Lyudmila Sagaria, staff member of the Children's Fund of the Republic of Abkhazia
• Vitaly Smyr, former head of the Administration of New Athos, veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993)
• Kesou Khagba, deputy of the Abkhazian Parliament (3rd convocation), former Minister of Culture of the Republic of Abkhazia
• Alexander Khadzhimba, civic activist
• Tsiala Tskua, research fellow at the Abkhazian State Museum
• Miron Chalmaz, veteran of the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (1992 to 1993), Hero of Abkhazia
• Asida Shakryl, former Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Abkhazia
• Chedia Sharizan, staff member of the department of social ministry and charity at New Athos Monastery
• Marina Shamba, People's Artist of the Republic of Abkhazia
• Maya Shirokova, lawyer, staff member of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes

The collection of signatures continues.

Abkhazia, 7 August 2026