Students and schoolchildren from Abkhazia took part in the qualifying rounds of the competition for reciting poems by Abaza and Abkhazian poets as part of the Festival of the Abaza Language and Literature. The competition brought together 1-2 year students of the Faculty of Philology of ASU, Gudauta School No. 2 and Gagra Secondary School No. 1.

The participants had to read a poem in the Abaza or Abkhaz languages. The general level of preparation and mastery of artistic reading techniques of the contestants was evaluated by the jury headed by the chairman - the dean of the Faculty of Philology of ASU Batal Khagush. The commission also included senior lecturer and associate professor of the Abkhaz literature department of ASU Akhra Ankvab and Adgur Kakoba, associate professor of the Abkhaz language department of ASU Natalya Likhova, project manager of the Festival of the Abaza Language and Literature Sergey Pazov and head of the department of the ANO "Alashara" in Cherkessk Murat Mukov. The permanent members of the jury were joined by teachers and representatives of educational authorities in the schools of Gagra and Gudauta.

Akhra Ankvab noted the importance of holding such events to maintain linguistic and cultural contacts between representatives of the two ethnic groups.

"The festival of the Abaza language and literature is one of the most important platforms for strengthening cultural and linguistic ties between the Abkhaz and Abaza. This event has already become an annual event and young people from Abkhazia regularly participate in it. As part of the project, schoolchildren, students and teachers from Abkhazia also attend and actively express themselves in a scientific and practical conference in Karachay-Cherkessia," Ankvab shared.

The high level of organization of qualifying rounds in Abkhazian schools was noted by the organizers from among the guests of the Republic.

"The school tried to turn the competition into a festive performance. The performance "Dove of Peace" timed to coincide with the Day of Peace was shown before the event. After the completion of the performances in each age group, they took a short break, during which children from school amateur performances sang songs," Sergey Pazov shared his impressions of the competition held in the Gudauta Secondary School No. 2.

He also noted the efforts and interest shown to poetry in the Abaza and Abkhaz languages ​​by the participants of the competition.

"Among the students, there were those who wanted to recite two or even three works, despite they were out of competition. Schoolchildren read expressively and artistically. I liked it," Pazov did not hide his emotions.

After the completion of the qualifying rounds, 14 participants will be selected who will perform at the final stage of the competition in Karachay-Cherkessia.

This year, as in 2019, the festival of the Abaza language and literature is being held in Karachay-Cherkessia with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund. The organizer of the event is ANO "Alashara". The festival is regularly visited by a delegation from Abkhazia: schoolchildren and students participate in the competition of readers, and scholars and experts in the scientific and practical conference "Tabulov Readings".