Georgia Abkhazia Conflict

We often hear flashy news headlines and updates				the rights of minorities, and altered Georgia's
about war conflicts around the globe. We are fed				constitution to exclude Abkhazian votes in the
with information, which is often exaggerated,				government. Abkhazia fearing the new Georgian
opinionated with little facts, inaccurate and bias.				policies, immediately reacted to the Georgian
This information leads us to form opinions and				racism by declaring Abkhazia as an independent
solutions to the issue without knowing the				country, and elected Vladislav Ardzinba as their
background or the details involved. I had my own				new leader. Gamsakhurdia's policy also raised
views and opinions about the conflict in the				tension in the middle region of Georgia, called
former Soviet Republic of Georgia. After doing				South Ossetia which was populated by the
my research on history in Georgia, I began to				Ossetian minority. The Ossetians began opposition
realize the more complicated and deeper roots of				with the Georgians fearing they might be
the problems that caused the conflict. The military				persecuted because they are not of Georgian
fighting started in the early 1990s on a large scale,				ethnicity. At this time the Georgian people felt
but the complications that started this go farther				Gamsakhurdia wasn't dealing correctly with the
back in history. As we read on, we will learn a				conflicts between Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
little more in depth about Georgia's conflict.				In January 1992 Gamsakhurdia was overthrown
Green subtropical beaches on the Black Sea coast				from office, and a new leader was elected,
to high alpine mountains; Georgia was always a				former Soviet politician Edward Shevardnadze. He
popular getaway for citizens of the much colder				was able to negotiate the conflict in South
climate Soviet Union. The Georgian people are				Ossetia, with an agreed cease-fire. But the conflict
known for great hospitality, exceptional wine				within Abkhazia was only beginning. Georgia felt
brewing and they have their own unique alphabet.				Abkhazia belonged to them and they couldn't
All though the Georgian people have been around				stand and watch Abkhazia tear away to form a
for thousands of years, for the last few centuries				separate nation. So Shevardnadze sent in three
this country has been ruled by other kingdoms				thousand troops to Sukhumi which was the capital
including the Mongols, Arabs, Turks and finally the				of Abkhazia. He claimed to the Abkhazian
Russians (History Georgia). In the early Soviet				authorities he is sending the troops because
times Georgia became a part of the Soviet Union.				"Georgian officials were kidnapped by former
Abkhazia was part of the Georgian Republic in the				leader Gamsakhurdia supporters, who were
north-west region during the Soviet Union times.				headed for Sukhumi" (apsny.org). As the Georgian
With popular palm-beach resorts, a warm climate				troops entered the Abkhazian territory, the
and perfect soil for agriculture, Abkhazia attracted				Abkhaz authorities found out that the real intent
around three million tourists a year from the				of the troops was to overthrow the Abkhaz
Soviet Union alone. The size of Abkhazia is a little				government and restore Georgian rule in
smaller than the big island of Hawaii.				Abkhazia. Immediately the Abkhaz government
Under the Soviet rule, Abkhazia was a region				realized they needed to flee for protection out of
within Georgia politically and geographically. Both				Sukhumi. Ardzinmba and Abkhazian ministers
ethnic groups, Abkhazians and Georgians were				quickly withdrew to northern Abkhazia in the
natives of this land and did not share the same				Caucasus Mountains and called for the Abkhazian
native language. Most of the time they were able				people to resist all Georgian troops coming in.
to communicate because they learned Russian as				By October 1992 the Georgian troops moving
their second language. The Russian language was				from the south, were able to take over Sukhumi.
dominant throughout all the Soviet Union during				They took over the city all the way north to the
the communist era. During the early 1990s, the				Gumista River where Abkhazian volunteer forces
Soviet Union came to an end, and Georgia gained				were able to set up an offensive blocking the
independence. At the same time Abkhazia did not				north shore of the river, while the Georgians
want to stay with Georgia so they separated				were on the south shore. This was as far as the
from them by military force. Since then, the				Georgians advanced during the war and the
Abkhaz people consider themselves independent				Gumista River in northern Sukhumi became the
from Georgia, but their independence is still under				major front line. The Georgian forces, in an act of
dispute and it is not supported or recognized				disrespect and senselessness to the Abkhazian
internationally.				nation, burned down the state archive and the
I was born in the former Soviet Republic of				archives of the Institute of Abkhazian language,
Georgia, in the city of Sukhumi the capital center				history and literature (apsny.org). Abkhazians claim
of the Abkhazian region. I remember our last				that during this time Georgians were burning
two-story house was really big compared to the				Abkhazian houses, robbing them and murdering
house we lived in before. It had a Victorian style				civilians. Because of this, thousands of Abkhazians
staircase on the outside that went up to our				fled Sukhumi fearing their lives.
balcony. We had thin tube arches that went over				The Abkhazians were by far outnumbered by the
the drive-way and grape vines twisted around the				Georgian forces. But the war was about to
tubes. It was fun to play in the back yard where				reverse that took the Georgia Abkhazia conflict
we had twelve mandarin trees, which out of all				to a new level. Even though Abkhazia's big
the citrus fruit is my favorite. We had a medium				northern neighbor Russia denies the claims, by
size greenhouse where my mom grew tulips.				1993 with their interest in the region, the Russians
I remember the Black Sea was only a few				began to assist Abkhazians in the war against the
minutes west in walking distance from our house.				Georgians (apsny.org). They supplied them with all
I didn't know how to swim then, but I loved				the necessary equipment for battle, and even
playing in the waves. Some blocks to the north				sent in Russian troops to fight against Georgians.
there was the Gumista River. I remember the				The new support from Russia gave the
"Gumista" sign when we drove over the bridge.				Abkhazians a strong advantage over the
Before you get to the bridge, there was the small				Georgians in Sukhumi and throughout the
bakery where we walked to buy warm bread. Me				Abkhazian region. The Abkhazians with the
and my older brother use to explore the railroad				Russians began to push the Georgian forces south
territory that was behind our neighbor's cornfield. I				out of Sukhumi. On September 30th 1993 the
was afraid to go there myself because the area				Georgian army was defeated and many were
was new to me. He took me to see the Gumista				captured, while the rest were pushed south
River one day, but we didn't go down to it,				towards Georgia still fighting. It was a very
because the drop off was steep. Later I felt				personal battle throughout the Abkhazian territory,
comfortable and explored the area by myself. But				especially in the villages where many were forced
the river still seemed big to me, and I was afraid				to battle against their former neighbors,
to go down to the water myself. What I liked the				coworkers, and even relatives because of mixed
most about Sukhumi were the palm trees and				ethnicity. Many battle lines were formed
the tropical plants, they made me feel warm				throughout the villages and towns, people had no
even if it snowed in the winter. There were many				choice but to return fire at those who were
times when my dad took our family in our car				shooting at them. Abkhazia finally freed itself from
around green jungles that went up in to the				Georgia with Russia's help.
Caucasus Mountains; there were sheep in the				Many Georgian civilians who remained in Sukhumi
valleys and old broken castles around the				after Abkhazia took over again, claim they were
mountains.				forced to leave their homes or otherwise fight on
The year 1989, this was our last year before we				the Abkhazian side (global IDP). For the hundred
came to America. We applied for a Visa to leave,				thousands of Georgians remaining in Abkhazia
and we got it. This was also the beginning of the				during this time, the "ethnic cleansing" became a
Georgia Abhkazia Conflict. We didn't know there				reality. Many were murdered while others were
was a war coming to this area. But during this last				tortured and forced to flee in to Russia and
year, everyone felt the tension. We sold our				mostly western Georgia. An estimated total of
house in advance without having to move out until				249,000 ethnic Georgians were still displaced from
our flight date. There were rumors and talk about				Abkhazia in 2003, that is about ten years later
the violence in Tbilisi Georgia's Capital, and the				after they were forced to flee (causes and
airport security in Sukhumi was raised to a higher				background). Most of them living along the
alert. I remember seeing more military vehicles				western Abkhazia/Georgia border as refugees.
driving around on the streets. Our last day in				About half of them lived in collective centers that
Sukhumi, my parents packed all night long				are mainly former public buildings like schools,
preparing for our trip. I remember everyone				former hotels, factories, and hospitals. A large
seemed nervous at the airport, and that was the				majority of them having little access to clean
last time I saw Sukhumi.				water, unsafe electric systems, and insufficient
Georgia became prosperous when the Soviet				insulation. Some negotiations were made which
Union was under the leadership of Joseph Stalin.				helped many Georgian refugees to return home in
He was originally from Georgia, born with the				to Abkhazia. Because of repeated violence against
Georgian last name Djugashvili, but once he				them, many had to flee back to the refugee
became a leader he changed it to Stalin meaning				centers in Georgia. Thousands of Georgians still
"man of steel" (Joseph Stalin Biography). Because				displaced for over ten years now, hope for the
he had a great deal of power over Soviet Union				best in returning home. Recent plans with
at the time, he helped Georgia open up new				international involvement are coming up with
enterprises and build its economy. While the				promising solutions to free the displaced refugees
positive growth was a big leap for Georgians,				back to Abkhazia.
Stalin's hatred of minorities living in Georgia				All though Abkhazia gained a victory over its
hardened. The Abkhazian people were among the				territory, fierce fighting continued throughout until
minorities who began to suffer the consequences				an official cease-fire in 1994. The cease-fire helped
of this prejudice. Schools in Georgia were forced				stop the full-scale war, but on and off fighting has
only to teach the Georgian language, while the				continued between both sides even till the day I
Abkhazian language was banned altogether.				wrote this. Over ten years of this ongoing
Thousands of Abkhazians were executed during				distress caused the economy to plunge in both
this time. Abkhazian names of particular places				Georgia and Abkhazia. To make matters worse,
were changed to Georgian names, and the				Abkhazia has economic sanctions on its imports
Abkhaz alphabet was changed to a Georgian				and exports because its independence is not
based alphabet. Even their passports could not				recognized by any other country in the world. It is
state their Abkhazian nationality. Thousands of				still considered a part of Georgia all though
Abkhazians were deported out of their land as				Georgia has no control over it. Russia's financial,
Russians and Georgians filled their vacancies. Even				political and military support in Abkhazia is growing
though many of them were able to stay, the				substantially every year despite the sanctions
Abkhazian people did not forget these times				imposed by the United Nations on Abkhazia.
when they were cleansed from their land because				The 1993-94 Gumista River front-line in Sukhumi
of their ethnicity.				was a long and deadly battle between the
During the 1930's and 40's Stalin was accused of				Abkhazians and the Georgians which lasted almost
every crime imaginable committed by the				a whole year. Over ten thousand people died
government.				during those months from that battle. When this
Under the new softer political leadership of Nikita				battle was over, the big two story house we sold
Khrushchev, anti-Stalinist retaliations began to				in 1989 only had the foundation left because it
develop throughout the Soviet Union. This raised				was bombed on the Gumista River front line.
the opinion that Stalin's harsh actions were made				According to the Landmine Monitor Report in
because of his Georgian origin. The opinion				1999, there were still a hundred and thirty three
especially raised criticism against Georgian youth				separate minefields stretching ten kilometers
who idolized Stalin from the very beginning of his				south from the bridge over the Gumista River
career (History of Georgia). The Georgians were				down the black sea coast along the western edge
offended by the anti-Stalinist movement,				of Sukhumi (landmine monitor). There are also
especially college students who began to hold				major minefields that go inland along the Gumista
meetings and demonstration rallies in the center				River area (landmine clearance). The high fertility
of Georgia's capital Tbilisi. They tried to defend				of the soil along the river attracts families who
Stalin's views, and they criticized new policies				continued to live in local neighborhoods growing
made by Khrushchev. On March 9th, 1956 the				small citrus groves, despite the close proximity to
Soviet Army shot the participants of the				large minefields. A few mines were washed out
demonstrations in Tbilisi, killing about one hundred				by the river in to the sea where they were
Georgians, and wounding another three hundred.				removed by Abkhazian engineers. The good news
Although Georgia still remained a Soviet Republic				is conditions are improving over all since 1999. In
after this incident, most of its people lost their				2002, in Abkhazia, an international mine clearing
trust in the Russian dominated Soviet rule from				organization called HALO Trust, cleared 858,688
this point on.				square meters of mine-affected land and
An invisible wall was being built between the				destroyed 456 antipersonnel mines, 127 antivehicle
Georgian people, and the Soviet government in				mines, and 749 unexploded ordnance explosives
their minds and hearts. Under new Soviet				(UXO) (landmine monitor). Unfortunately, there are
leadership, the Abkhazians began to receive				still reports that new mines are being layed
support from the Soviet government, in their				around Abkhazia by Georgians, Abhazians and
north-western part of Georgia. Their situation				Russian "peacekeepers", but not nearly as much
completely reversed from the cruel state they				as in 1993/94.
were in. They were considered equal to Georgians				Georgia's economy relied heavily on Russia during
now, their passports were changed to show their				the Soviet era. Because Russia helped Abkhazia
ethnicity, and they began teaching their language				defeat the Georgians, serious tensions were
in the schools the way they wanted to. They				formed between the two nations and Georgia's
were free to practice their own traditions that				economy fell even more. Russian troops helping
were heavily restricted during Stalin's time. In the				the Abkhazians, claimed Georgia trained and
late seventies Abkhazia was given forty percent				supported terrorist groups which had ties with
of government and judicial control in their territory				Chechnyan terrorists from Gerogia's northern
under the communist rule. Although this freedom				border. Georgia denies these accusations, and
was given to them, it was still considered part of				claims Russian "peace keepers" in Abkhazia need
the Georgian Republic.				to be removed because they start more conflicts
Because the Georgians had a much larger				than help with peace in the territory.
population and more government power				Georgia's future now seems more promising.
throughout Abkhazia, tensions kept rising				Edward Shevardnadze who lead Georgia since the
throughout the seventies and eighties between				1993 conflict was forced out of office by
the two ethnic groups. Abkhazians were already				protestors in November 2003. Shevardnadze is
unhappy with their past experience of persecution				blamed for causing corruption and bribery in the
by Georgians during Stalin's time. As time went				Georgian government during his ten year term,
on, they claimed that Georgian authorities				including drugs and illegal arms trafficking (End of
repeatedly violated the Abkhazian rights. During				Shev.). He was replaced by Mikheil Saakashvili who
these years, a Georgian national movement was				is now helping Georgia steer away from
growing. Georgia wanted to become independent				corruption. By presidential decree, Saakashvili
of the Soviet Union and by 1988 the national				established an Anti-Corruption Council that is
movement became stronger on a wide scale.				helping to enforce tougher laws against corruption
Among the leaders of this movement were				in all levels of the political system throughout
former Georgian prisoners who came out of				Georgia. The new President is finally trying his
Soviet prison camps. Peaceful demonstrations				best to fix ties with Russia again, in order to
began to form around the capital center in Tbilisi.				stabilize Georgia's economy and solve Abkhazia's
However the Soviet government was against the				conflict as soon as possible. He is working with
demonstrations in Tbilisi, and sent the Soviet				leaders around the world to come up with
Army to stop them by force. On April 9th, 1989				solutions for the Abkhazian conflict. Russia is
twenty demonstrators were attacked and killed				pushing Abkhazia for a faster resolution to help
at night, most of them were Georgian women				Georgian refugees return to Abkhazia peacefully.
(Georgia History). After this day, the Soviet				After researching the history and details of the
Communist Party lost all influence in the Georgian				conflict, I began to realize how much was lost
republic. The national movement became the main				because of it. My heart goes out to those who
motivation for Georgia's new government. It was				lost their lives, their loved ones, and their land. I
a process that was chaotic and unorganized, it				cannot take one side or the other, but pray for
soon opened the door for the election of the new				peace in Abkhazia and Georgia. I am hoping for
Georgian leader Zviad Gamsakhurdia on October				the best, and I believe the time is coming soon
28th, 1990.				where the two sides will finally find solutions that
Gamsakhurdia created a problem by placing				both parties can agree on.
inflexible policy throughout Georgia which ignored

Black Stuff

Georgia Abkhazia Conflict

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