17 years of solitude

17 years ago, despite the victory in the Georgian-Abkhazian War, only a handful of Abkhaz experts thought that the newly formed Republic of Abkhazia had future. Heavy losses encountered in the war, completely destroyed economy with little prospect of recovery taking into consideration the Russian blockade, and the international community that only recognized Abkhazia within the boundaries  of Georgia. This was the reality surrounding the country, which was left alone and looked like an ill child who the doctors thought would not make it. But the child recovered, started moving and is slowly looking more like its healthy peers.

Abkhazia survived and, despite its independence being recognized by only four countries, everybody (including Georgian experts) understands that returning to the pre-war status quo is virtually impossible. This train has gone and will probably never come back.

But everything could have been different. Perhaps the most difficult period for Abkhazia was the post-war years when the budget of the country was slightly over a million USD. In such a situation it was difficult to tell to the people how long they had to suffer and to wait till better times came.

The first president of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba did the impossible: he saved the country from Chechenization. He kept it from becoming a military state where Kalashnikov machine guns would replace the law. Unlike Georgia, Abkhazia tried to build democratic institutions on its own. This process was made more difficult by the fear of Georgia striking back any time.

However, interestingly it was these difficulties that played a decisive role in the modern Abkhazian history. The Abkhazian society stood together to achieve its goal. However paradoxical it may sound it was Georgia that helped Abkhazia do it: Gamsakhurdia with his slogan “Georgia for Georgians”, Shevardnadze with the war waged in 1992-93 and Saakashvili with an unhidden wish of a military revenge.

Over these years not once has Abkhazia felt that its unkind neighbor wanted to build normal relations with it. Moreover, the aggressive politics carried out by the Georgian leaders, made the impression that Georgian authorities were executing a public order. At least, we saw it in this light from Abkhazia.

Had Shevardnadze won in 1993 or had Saakashvili’s adventure turned out successful Georgians would have considered them heroes and liberators who restored the territorial integrity. Nobody would have been interested in the losses of Abkhazians or South Ossetians then. Their place in the Georgian history would be next to David the Builder or Queen Tamara perhaps. But everything happened differently.

On this issue I agree with a famous Russian publicist Yulia Latinina who noted that Georgia lost the moral rights to Abkhazia twice: first, when it started the war in 1992, and second, when it lost this war.

After Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia two years ago and took the responsibility to protect it from the Georgian aggression, the solution of Georgian-Abkhazian conflict became less important for Abkhazians. Sokhumi understands well that in the short-term Georgia will not accept the loss of Abkhazia. So, nothing has changed in this regard. However, the feeling of security and the belief that a new war is not looming shifted the focus of Abkhazia to other internal and external issues. The topicality of Georgia lost value after Abkhzia’s independence was recognized by Russia.
    
Over these years not once has Abkhazia felt that its unkind neighbor wanted to build normal relations with it. Moreover, the aggressive politics carried out by the Georgian leaders, made the impression that Georgian authorities were executing a public order.

The Abkhazian government has faced the new challenges. Now it tries to prove that Abkhazians’ strive for independence does not mean their independence from Georgia only. Today, their main challenge is to establish normal relations with their only real ally Russia. Normal relations here mean such relationship that does not jeopardize and infringe on the Abkhazian sovereignty. The future of the Abkhazian project is directly dependent on how it manages to meet this new challenge. In 1993, the ill child made it. Now it is 17 years old and full of hope. This youngster wants to live. Abkhazia has existed as a country for 17 years now. It exists not because it opposes Georgia or because of the goodwill of Russia. It exists because the Abkhazian people want so.

The terminology used in the article is the property of the author only and does not reflect the opinion of The Liberal.    

The article has been prepared with the support of Heinrich Boell Foundation. The views and opinions expressed in the publication do not necessarily reflect those of Heinrich Boell Foundation.