Abkhazia. Photo © "Liberali"
Abkhazia hopes that Turkey will become a source of new immigrants, which will change the demographic balance in the republic in favour of the Abkhaz.
The population of Abkhazia is now only 250,000, of which only 100,000 are ethnic Abkhaz.
In the meantime, there are half a million people of Abkhaz origin in Turkey. They are descendants of the emigrants, who fled this part of the Caucasus after Russia conquered it.
Most of them can now speak only Turkish, but the Abkhaz government nevertheless hopes that many will want to cross the Black Sea and start a new life in the homeland of their ancestors.
Yavuz Kvadzba was one of the first to do so. He settled in Abkhazia together with 200 other Abkhaz in 1993. However, many of them went back to Turkey, as the post-war devastation, famine, and poverty, as well as 10 years of blockade, proved to be unbearable for them.
But Kvadzba stayed and learned the Russian and Abkhaz languages.
"If you want, you will learn. I wanted to," he said. He now has a tourist agency in the centre of Sukhumi. The agency is located in the premises of an Internet café, which belongs to another "repatriate" - Recep Ucas.
"It is not easy to start a business. You cannot take a loan in Turkey and interest rates are very high in Abkhazia," Kvadzba said.
The Abkhaz government gives property to settlers like Kvadzba, who received a home in Gagra to the north of Sukhumi. He does not have sufficient money to restore the home, but he nevertheless does not intend to return to Turkey.
"Of course, sometimes there are difficulties, but I think this will not last for a long time. Some said they would be unable to achieve anything here and went back. Those who are looking for riches are going back," Kvadzba said.
After Russia recognised Abkhazia two years ago, the local government tried to make the repatriation process more regular despite staunch resistance on Georgia's part.
For the time being, about 300 Abkhaz from Turkey reside in Abkhazia on the permanent basis. The government hopes that their inflow will increase, particularly as they have launched a state programme to help repatriates.
"There were just appeals to return up to now, but no programme," said opposition member Genadi Alamia, who is the chairman of the Abkhaz-Abaza Congress.
According to Alamia, initially there were fears that Russia would object to the settlement of a large number of Turkish citizens close to its borders.
"The repatriation problem did not become a priority for people in Abkhazia, because there was a risk of negative reaction from Russia," he said. "We must tell the Russian leadership openly that the repatriation of our compatriots is necessary to save the Abkhaz people. There are ten times as many Abkhaz in the diaspora as here, in their historic homeland".
Alania also said that his personal meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin last year dispelled his suspicions. He reassured me, saying that "the main thing is to save the Abkhaz people".
The repatriation committee helps newcomers with obtaining citizenship and provides them with money and accommodation. Repatriates have to meet certain conditions after they arrive in Abkhazia: they cannot sell the home they receive for 15 years, which is supposed to prevent them from going back to Turkey after they receive cash.
In September, the former head of the government staff, Zurab Adleyba, became chairman of the repatriation committee and started reforming it. "We want youths to be a majority among the returnees," he said. "It is easy to work with them. They will adapt more quickly and become full-fledged members of our society".
Adleyba has elaborated an action plan, which will soon be submitted to the government. "The plan is comprehensive and includes everything starting with language teaching and adaptation. We have a lot of ideas, which are to be implemented," he said.
Adleyba said that Turkish businessmen had expressed the desire to build homes for those, who decide to return to Sukhumi and Russians are ready to build apartments for repatriates in Ochamchire District.
Faruk Karchaa and his family are among those, who decided to quit Turkey and stay in Abkhazia forever. Faruk, 50, brought his wife and child to Sukhumi four years ago. He now has a café in the centre of the town.
Karchaa has learnt some Abkhaz, but he cannot yet speak Russian, which makes his life harder, as Russian is the lingua franca here.
The Karchaa family was given a home in Sukhumi, but they do not have sufficient money to renovate it, so they rent a home.
Karchaa speaks Turkish and his grandson Nesren translates what he says. And he says he does not regret anything despite difficulties.
"I returned to the homeland of my ancestors. My home is here".
The terminology used in the article belongs to the author and not “Liberali”.
The article is prepared with support of Heinrich Boell Foundation. The publication statements and ideas do not necessarily express the Heinrich Boell Foundation opinion.