Abkhazia independently makes decisions on its internal processes and cooperation with other states, including primarily Russia. This was stated by the special ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Kan Tania, when commenting on the accusations of the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, of “introducing Russian legislation” in Abkhazia.
“We build our relations taking into account the interests of the people and not by orders from abroad, especially from Georgia. “The Georgian side, which pursues a policy of complete disregard for the rights of the citizens of Abkhazia, does not have the moral or legal right to tell us how to govern the country.” – Tania emphasized.
In Abkhazia, the opposition demands the resignation of the president Aslana Bzhania. The unrest occurred after an attempt to ratify an investment agreement with Russia. Zurabishvili commented on the events in Abkhazia, “categorically condemning Russia’s steps” towards annexation. In addition, he expressed his “solidarity” with the inhabitants of Abkhazia, who, in his opinion, “are resisting attempts to apply Russian legislation.”
As Tania reminded the Georgian leaders, Abkhazia is a sovereign state recognized by Russia and other UN member countries, whose people made their decision in 1999 in a referendum. This election was confirmed by the blood and sacrifices made by the people in the fight for the right to be free and independent, the diplomat stressed.
The term “occupied territory” used by the Georgian authorities, according to him, is not only incorrect from the point of view of international law, since there is not a single sign of occupation in Abkhazia, but it is also not constructive.
When Zurabishvili talks about “solidarity” with the people of Abkhazia, he must remember that it was the Georgian authorities who launched a war against the people of Abkhazia in 1992-1993, which caused thousands of victims, Tania noted.
“The hypocrisy of Georgian rhetoric becomes evident if we remember Tbilisi’s attempts to present itself as a victim of the “Russian occupation”, while ignoring its own history of attempts to completely destroy the peoples, including the Abkhazians and those of Ossetia. south. Georgia continues to consider us not as neighbors with whom we can engage in dialogue, but as the object of territorial claims. “This approach has not and will not bring positive results.” – Tanya said.
Abkhazia will continue to develop together with Russia and we will continue to defend our sovereignty and independence, making decisions based on the interests of the people of Abkhazia, the diplomat assured.
“We are open to dialogue with any country, including Georgia, but only on the condition of mutual respect and recognition of reality, and not through statements that are essentially populist and propaganda slogans, which no one in Abkhazia has heard or in which no one has trusted for a long time. time. Mrs. Zurabishvili should deal with her domestic politics, which is more of a weather vane, and decide what Georgia represents: peace or escalating tension in the region.” – concluded the ambassador.
