Salome Achba
Georgian-Abkhaz relation still is and might always be urgent topic in our society. Humanrights.ge interviewed lecturer at the Sokhumi University, Professor of History Bezhan Khorava about the causes of the conflict, historical facts, bloody controversy, and ways to the conflict resolution and about many other interesting issues about Georgian-Abkhaz relations.
-What historical factors caused Georgian-Abkhaz contraversy which finally led us to the bloody conflict?
-Relation between Georgian and Abkhaz peoples worsened in the XIX Century and Russian Empire had mite in it. The government of Russia aimed to remove Abkhazia and Abkhaz people from Georgian environment. Georgian public figures of the XIX-XX centuries Iakob Gogebashvili, Kirion Sadzaglishvili, Ambrosi Khelaia and others stated that Abkhaz nation was independent ethnic group and they had full right to have their own alphabet. Georgian public figures did their best to assist Abkhaz people. For example, they assisted them in creation of written language and in the development and promotion of their culture. The Russian government took advantage of this cultural process and finally Russian general and linguist Petre Uslar created Abkhaz written language for them. However, under instructions of the Russian government creation of the alphabet did not aim to develop Abkhaz culture; just the opposite - they wanted to separate Abkhaz people from Georgian environment completely. Member of the Vicegerent’s Council Evgeni Veigenbaum wrote: “Abkhaz language, which is not written language, is doomed to disappearance. The point is which language will replace Abkhaz language. Not a Georgian but Russian language should introduce cultural ideas and notions in the population. So, I think, our aim should not be inculcation of the written Abkhaz language but banishment of Georgian language with the support of church and schools and replacement it by Russian language,” wrote Veigenbaum.
In one word, Russia tried to gain hearts of Abkhaz people and oppose them with Georgian people. Years later it had a result. After the Tsarist Russia collapsed, one part of Abkhaz population had pro-Russian position and tried to integrate Abkhazia with Russia instead Georgia. However, at that time, pro-Georgian orientation turned up stronger in the Abkhaz population and Abkhazia joined Georgian Democrat Republic. During the Soviet Union, Russia continued its old politics and did its best to oppose Georgian and Abkhaz people with each other. Consequently, Russia supported establishment of the Autonomous Governance in Abkhazia. They taught Abkhaz people that Georgian people were their enemies who settled in their territories in the XIX Century and that Georgian people never lived in Abkhazia before. So, they tried to convince Abkhaz people that it was their native land and Georgian people wanted to assimilate and absorb their culture and uniqueness. Stalin’s governance benefited to this propaganda. Everything sinned by Stalin, Beria and that-time soviet leadership against Abkhaz people was ascribed to Georgian population because of Stalin and Beria’s ethnicity.
The effort of the soviet government had output in the 1950s and Abkhaz people started to request separation from Georgia and integration with Russia. With the support and effort of the Russian authority, this process resulted into a bloody conflict in 1989 and later this situation ended with the war in 1992-93.
-What could Georgian side do in that situation to avoid bloody conflict?
-Unfortunately, when the conflict originated, Georgia was not independent republic and the desire of the Georgian population was not considered by the authority of Russian Empire. Georgian public figures – Kirion Sadzaglishvili, Ambrosi Khelaia, Iakob Gogebashvili and others stated that Georgian people had to assist Abkhaz people to maintain their uniqueness and culture but Georgian people did not have enough tools to do it. The Russian authority blocked all similar initiatives of the Georgian side.
During communist time, Soviet Imperialist Policy was executed in Abkhazia and in Georgia too like in every republic of the Soviet Union. During the repressions of 1930s, more ethnic Georgian people were victimized than Abkhaz people.
More disputable issue is settlement of Georgian people in the territory of Abkhazia which took place from 1930s till 1950s. It was the state policy of Russia and Georgian people had no right to decide what to do. It does not mean that Georgian people did not live in Abkhazia before 1930s like Abkhaz people were taught for many years. Aborigine Georgian population lived in this territory from the ancient time who were later joined by a new wave of Georgian people settled there by Russian government. It is noteworthy that this settlement did result into infiltration – life-styles and culture of Georgian and Abkhaz peoples were not assimilated.
-Abkhaz people often blame Georgian people in the Muhajiroba (resettlement) of Abkhaz people. What do Georgian historians think about it?
-Georgian people did not take any part in the resettlement of Abkhaz people at all. Before Muhajiroba, Russian authority abolished the Abkhaz Principality. The last ruler of Abkhazia Mikheil Shervashidze was exiled to Russia where he died; his body was buried in Abkhazia in 1866. On the funeral Abkhaz people decided to revenge Russia. Abkhaz society negotiated with the son of Mikheil Shervashidze – Giorgi Shervashidze and convinced him to lead anti-Russian movement in Abkhazia. In July-August of 1866 Abkhaz people rebelled against Russia and declared Giorgi Shervashidze to be their ruler. Russia subdued their rebel ruthlessly. They hang up part of leaders and exiled another part. The descendents of Abkhaz rulers were prohibited to arrive in Abkhazia. As a result of the rebel the first wave of resettlement of Abkhaz people to Osmal Empire started – that is Muhajiroba.
Russian authority saw the danger and concluded to get rid of Abkhaz people who were particularly annoyed about Russian government. In April-June 1867 Russian government exiled Abkhaz people from Abkhazia under force. 15 000 people were exiled only from Kodori Gorge and finally the gorge was completely abandoned by Abkhaz population. Georgian people opposed the policy of Russia towards Abkhaz people. For example, head of Gudauta Mazra (district) Dimitry Chavchavadze suggested Abkhaz people not to obey the orders of the Empire and not to resettle to Osmal Empire. However, Abkhaz people did not have right to choose because it was forcible exile.
The fact that Georgian side was not guilty in the Muhajiroba (resettlement) of Abkhaz people is proved by the exile of many Georgian people together with Abkhaz people. It is proved by historical sources. There are lists of exiled people where you can find many Georgian names; there are many Georgian people who had changed their ethnicity into Abkhaz.
The second wave of Muhajiroba started in 1877 which was anteceded by another rebel of Abkhaz people against Russia. The rebel caused the second wave of exile. Part of Abkhaz people exiled in Osmal Empire tried to return back to Abkhazia but they could not enter there and settled in Adjara.
-How do you think, what is the biggest mistake of Abkhaz people made with regard to Georgian people and vice versa- the biggest mistake of Georgian people with regard to Abkhaz people?
-Of course both parties made many mistakes but since Georgian people had more experience and since we had bigger population, we had more responsibility too. I think, we should have been more generous towards Abkhaz people. It is clear that Georgian-Abkhaz war was provoked by Russia but the war always has alternative and it is peace. Introduction of Georgian army into Abkhazia on August 14, 1992 was mistake. It is clear that Georgian army was moving in the Georgian territory – Abkhazia but in such a complicated situation Georgian people had to be more careful. We should not have started gun-blazing with Abkhaz people. As for the mistakes of Abkhaz people, they, like Georgian people, were provoked by Russia too.
-What has been done since 1990s for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and what can be done in future?
-Much seemed to be done on the root-grass or higher levels for the peaceful resolution of the conflict but they did not have any real results. Maybe, it was caused because of the improper activities of the former government of Georgia. It is clear that Russia did its best to hinder all similar activities but it cannot justify our inactivity. When the government of Georgia was changed as a result of the Rose Revolution in 2003, I think we could have done something and start new page of the Georgian-Abkhaz relations. Unfortunately, we missed this chance. On the one hand, we tried to lead peace-negotiations with Abkhaz people and on the other hand we actively composed and played songs with military rhetoric and aired them on national TV-Companies. It of course discouraged Abkhaz people to start negotiations with us.
-What resource do you see now to restore Georgian-Abkhaz relation?
-I think, grass-root diplomacy is the only resource to restore the broken bridge. Besides that, Georgia should become a state where Abkhaz will have desire to live in.
-What kind of Georgia can attract Abkhaz people to live in?
-Economically and politically strong country where the rights of not only Abkhaz but of Georgian people will be protected too.
-Who can play the key role in the conflict resolution process: old generation who still has friendly-relative-neighborhood links with Abkhaz people though they still remember bloody conflict, or the new generation for whom the war is less painful because they have not witnessed it; however, they do not remember Abkhazia at all?
-I think both old and new generations should play active role in it. Both of them have enough resources for it. The old generation still keeps relation with Abkhaz people. The new generation can start their relation with Abkhaz pals from the very beginning. Georgian population had century-long controversy with Osmal and Persian peoples but now this problem has been resolved. Today, Iran and Turkey are our closest neighbors and we have good relation with them. So, the point is that politicians of both sides should compromise while ordinary people can always find ways how to settle problems.
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