11 years ago, on August 26, 2008, the President of Russia (at that time - Dmitry Medvedev - ed.) signed decrees on the international recognition of the Republic of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  In his statement, Medvedev emphasized: “Given the free will of the Ossetian and Abkhaz peoples, being guided by the provisions of the UN Charter, the 1970 declaration on the principles of international law regarding friendly relations between states, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act of the CSCE, and other fundamental international documents, I signed decrees on recognition by the Russian Federation of the independence of South Ossetia and the independence of Abkhazia.”

After Medvedev’s address was shown on federal channels of Russia, residents of Abkhazia began to gather in the main square of the country - Freedom Square near the former government building, which was burned and destroyed during the Patriotic War of the people of Abkhazia 1992-1993.  In just a few hours, the square was filled with tens of thousands of jubilant citizens of Abkhazia from all towns of the Republic. People gathered in a circle and performed Abkhaz dances, hugged and congratulated each other on the long-awaited international recognition of independence.  The then President of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh delivered a speech at the meeting, together with the country's first leaders and active fighters for the freedom of Abkhazia during the period of Georgian oppression. An unforgettable atmosphere of national happiness reigned in the square.