On Friday, March 23, Abkhazia celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic's State Repatriation Committee. For a quarter of a century more than four and a half thousand compatriots returned to their permanent residence in Abkhazia. About 11 thousand people received Abkhaz citizenship.
Asta Ardzinba
The Abkhaz State Committee for Repatriation was established on March 23, 1993. The decree on this was signed by the Chairman of the Supreme Council Vladislav Ardzinba. In the conditions of a fierce war, the Abkhazian people understood the importance and necessity of uniting the nation, strengthening and developing the relations between Abkhazia and the Abkhaz Diaspora abroad. The hopes for the bright future of the state, which had yet to be freed from the Georgian invaders, were associated with this.
The leader of the nation, Vladislav Ardzinba, once said the historical phrase "Ҳџынџьуаарырхынҳәра - ҳаԥсадгьылеиқәнархоит", that is, "The return of compatriots will save our Motherland". It is these words that have been the motto of the State Repatriation Committee for a quarter of a century.
The Abkhaz and the Abazins, as a result of the Caucasian war and the annexationist policy of tsarist Russia in the Caucasus, were forced to leave their homeland and move to the Ottoman Empire. The people were separated and for more than a century and a half had no opportunity to maintain ties.
The first organized attempts to carry out repatriation were already made at the beginning of the 20th century. However, due to the political conjuncture of the young Soviet state, which included Abkhazia, all these attempts were of little effect. For the first time a full-scale process of repatriation at the state level became possible only when Abkhazia became independent.
At different times, the State Committee for Repatriation was headed by Nugzar Ashuba (1993-1995), Fenya Avidzba (1995-1997), Givi Dopua (1997-2002, 2003-2004), Apollon Shinkuba (2002-2003), Anzor Mukba (2005 - 2010), Zurab Adleiba (2010 - 2013), Khrips Dzhopua (2013 - 2014), Vadim Kharazia (2014-2017), Beslan Dbar (2017 - up to the present).
Currently, Abkhazia has a law on repatriation, according to which Abkhazians and Abazins, who have returned to their historical homeland for permanent residence, have the status of repatriates for 5 years. During this period, the State Committee provides them with affordable financial assistance, provides housing and land, and helps with job placement and registration of Abkhaz citizenship, pays for the education of children in pre-school and school institutions. In addition, the State Committee partly pays for their education in a higher educational institution.
To implement the state repatriation program, an extrabudgetary fund for repatriation was established in 1998. In 2018, it amounted to 156 million rubles, of which 116 million are directed to the construction of new housing for repatriates. According to the plans of the leadership of the State Committee for the Victory Day on September 30 this year, a hundred families of returnees will receive the keys to new apartments.
According to the information of the State Committee for Repatriation, over 25 years up to 11 thousand compatriots were granted citizenship of Abkhazia, more than four and a half thousand people have returned to their historical homeland for permanent residence.
In 2013, the State Committee for Repatriation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, with the assistance of public figures and representatives of Russian state structures,
carried out a humanitarian action: about 500 ethnic Abkhazians and Abazins were brought to the republic from the war-torn Syria.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the State Committee for Repatriation, a solemn event was held on the stage of the Abkhazian State Philharmony Society in Sukhum. President of Abkhazia Raul Khadzhimba addressed the audience and the entire Abkhazian-Abazin people with a salutatory speech.
The head of state noted that Vladislav Ardzinba, signing the decree on the establishment of the State Committee for Repatriation, was confident of the prospect of this step and understood the need to strengthen ties with the Diaspora, to develop a program for the return of compatriots to their historical homeland in order to build an independent and strong state.
"Over the past 25 years, the Committee has established contacts with compatriots, many have returned to Abkhazia, joined the socio-economic life of the country, created families, some engaged in small business, helped in the development of education, culture and sports. During this time, in Abkhazia, in their homeland, children were born in these families, young people have grown up," Khadzhimba said.
He also stressed the participation of compatriots from abroad in the 1992-1993 Patriotic War of the Abkhazian people.
"We will never forget those who during the Patriotic War of the people of Abkhazia came to us from Turkey, Syria, Jordan and defended Abkhazia with weapons in hand, who gave their lives for the freedom of the country. This proves that wherever the Abkhaz is, he always thinks about his homeland and its fate!", the Abkhazian president noted in his speech.
The head of state stressed that the State Committee for Repatriation and other state structures will work closely with the World Abaza Congress (WAC).
"The unity of our people, which was divided by a great historical tragedy, the return of compatriots home, the preservation of the Abkhaz people, our culture and language should be the highest national idea," Khadzhimba said.
The congratulatory address of the chairman of the State Committee for Repatriation of Abkhazia Beslan Dbar was read by the director of the Museum of the History of Foreign Abkhazians, member of the Supreme Council of the WAC Dzhambul Injgia.
"The time in which we live poses difficult tasks, and in order to solve them, we lack only love for our country, we must fight for the future of the Motherland in all ways and all together, shoulder to shoulder. To all those who work in the Committee for the benefit of our country and people, I wish you good luck, health and success in your work. Let more great achievements await us!", - was said in the message.
The fact that the Abkhazians and Abazins all over the world face new challenges, especially in front of the threat of loss of their native language, culture and loss of national identity, noted in his speech the chairman of the Federation of the Abkhaz cultural centers in Turkey, Atanur Akusba.
In his opinion, in parallel with the work to create conditions for the return of compatriots to Abkhazia, it is necessary to develop state programs aimed at protecting the Abkhaz people living in various countries of the world, in particular, to preserve the culture, language and identity of Abkhazians and Abazins in their countries of residence.
"We must help a person feel himself a part of the Abkhazian society, even if he continues to live in Turkey or in any other country," Akusba said.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the State Committee for Repatriation, a jubilee medal was issued, which was handed to the wife of the first president of Abkhazia, Vladislav Ardzinba, Svetlana Dzhergenia.
The orders of "Akhdz-Apsha" III degree for the contribution to the strengthening of relations between the Diaspora and the historical homeland at the gala evening were awarded to Nechet Aghumaa, Biulent Avizba, Jammaletin Ardzinba, Zulfi Achuzba, Aidzhan Bedia, Ardashin Bganba, Sener Gogua, Aida Kvitsinia, Ercan Kutarba, Akhmat Marchand, Sharafeddin Marshan, Adem Maharia, Ekrem Khishba, Oktay Chkotua, Zerrin Shamba.
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