Back in August 2008, Russia recognized the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia hoped that a sort of counter-American (but not anti-American) alliance would also recognizes the breakaway republics to punish NATO and the United States. Instead only Nicaragua backed the Kremlin while the Hamas-occupational government of the Gaza Strip released a statement that may or may not have formally recognized the breakaway republics.
The situation became a bit of a joke. While the Republic of Kosovo has sixty-two states, not counting the Republic of China, backing its independence claim Russia could not rally any of its allies including Belarus which desires a form of reunification. Recognition from Daniel Ortega made it look like Russia could only command 1980s Communist throwbacks.
Now Hugo Chavez has granted recognition to the breakaway republics during his visit to Moscow. This gives Moscow and its satellites... another Latin American communist backer. While Kosovo gains more legitimacy everyday with non-first world countries joining first-world backers, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are still stuck with Russia and far left Latin American states. If these regions expect to separate themselves from Georgia in the eyes of other, they must show themselves of being free from Russian domination and seek recognition from countries who's governments are not run by jokes.
2 comments:
In 1921, Abkhazia and Georgia became Sovietized. On 31 March 1921, an independent Soviet Republic of Abkhazia was proclaimed. On 21 May 1921, the Georgian Bolshevik government officially recognized the independence of Abkhazia.
See: DECLARATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE OF THE SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA ON INDEPENDENCE OF THE SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA http://www.rrc.ge/law/declar_1921_05_21_e.htm?lawid=112&lng_3=en
But the same year, under pressure from Stalin (aka Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili) origin and other influential Georgian Bolsheviks, Abkhazia was forced to conclude a union (i.e., confederative) treaty with Georgia. Abkhazia still remained a full union republic until 1931, when its status was downgraded, under Stalin's orders, from that of Union Republic to that of an Autonomous Republic within Georgia. This act of incorporation of Abkhazia into Georgia was conducted without the approval and against the will of the Abkhazian people and caused mass protests in Abkhazia. Thus the creation of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic within Georgia was not the result of the granting by the Bolsheviks of autonomous status to one of the republic's minorities, as it is often alleged, but was rather the forced convergence of two neighbouring states by the incorporation of one of them, Abkhazia, into the other, Georgia.
Vladislav Ardzinba, first president of Abkhazia, stated: “In 1931 Abkhazia was transformed into an autonomous republic within the Georgian SSR. Seemingly it was the only republic whose political status changed under pressure from Stalin not upwards but downwards”.
By the way, see ''Historical Maps: Abkhazia at various times in history''
http://gallery.abkhazworld.com/#4.41
The maps included here give an idea of the frontiers of Abkhazia at various times in history. The Abkhazians call their capital /Aqw'a/, but it is more usually known in other languages as Sukhum (Sukhum-Kalé or Sukhum-Kaleh in the period of Turkish influence along the Black Sea's eastern coast; /soxumi/ in Georgian). The ending -i in the form /Sukhumi/ represents the Georgian Nominative case-suffix, and it became attached to /Sukhum/ from the late 1930s when (Georgian) Stalin (Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili) and his Mingrelian lieutenant in Transcaucasia, Lavrent'i Beria, began to implement a series of anti-Abkhazian policies. Abkhazians today, for obvious reasons, resent the attachment of this element from the language of a people they see as oppressors.
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From Euratlas: http://www.euratlas.com/travel_time/europe_south_east_0800.html
Kingdom of Abkhazia in year 800
Anonymous,
Thanks for the comments and the links. I do support independence for any group of people who desire it because of oppression. I oppose however Russia using ethnic groups in the Near Abroad as pawns for their own gain. While South Ossetia would be overjoyed to become part of Russia, I warn the independence-loving Abkhazians about Russia. Border checkpoints, changing laws so Russians can own property in Abkhazia, handing out Russian passports, and permanent military posts are all part of Russia's plan to annex Abkhazia before anyone notices.
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