Russia surrenders its territories and holds on to other ones

Luka Murzakhani

The events going on in Abkhazia have split Georgian society into two parts: some approve of Bagapshi’s adherence to principles, they are happy about the defeat of the so-called Russian diplomacy or FBI.

Others call to reminiscences the events that happened before and after 1989 when Bagapshi along with Ozgan was at the head of Abkhazian separatism and Georgian genocide. It is claimed that nothing has changed. It would be better if Khajiba were Russia’s vassal and servant because if an agreement were reached with Russia, he would obey his patron.
Both opinions have the right for existence, but the main thing is that there is still communal society in Abkhazia. The on-going events are a clear example of it ? when they finished playing “court” and “parliament” games, an elder came to solve the dispute. The core of conflict does not lie only in Russia’s interference and attempts to take away the territory from us, but rather in the lack of any signs of civil society in Abkhazia. Even today daughters-in law do not address fathers-in-law by name, in fact, they do not speak to them. Even today the word of an elder is a law no matter how dictatorial and inhumane it might be. No one is interested in what people think. The people are only one small group of Akhsakals.
Akhsakals have never considered other Abkhazians equal, let alone Russians. They often called the Russians a lower nation. Akhsakals are not hard-working and they think that God created other people for work. They even have a proud and arrogant bearing as if they were sent for an especially important mission by the God. The elder’s opinion is important; others follow him as a flock ready to fall from a rock or die of hunger. Added to this is the fact that there are several of issues such as: Mokvels hate Likhnels, and in its turn, Likhnels hate Sukhumi or Gagra inhabitants. All of them hate Georgians, Russians, Ukrainians and dream of independent Abkhazia as it was in the times of King Leon II. However, the country has never existed in such a form as it is imagined by them. Perhaps, it was King Levan and not king Leon. There has never been such a name as Leon in Abkhazia. In general, the story of his existence came from Georgian historians in the middle of the 20th century. Hence, neither Bagapshi nor Khajiba will change or do anything as it is community that matters here! The community imagines economic order in its own special way thinking it is possible to live on resorts, transit, nuts and tangerines but one can rarely see Abkhazians employed in service sphere or working hard. Their criminal circles and pseudo businessmen are said to have introduced education from Russia, yet for some reason they could never learn to build a state.
I tire you, my readers, because I would like to convey to you the thought that there has always been less logic in their actions. The main thing was community elders’ feudal ideas and customs. Hence, they determine politics, but such situation should be nipped in the nut.
First of all, it is necessary to introduce elements of civil society and educate the youth both in economic and political field, but it is most important to introduce social light. No matter what simple Abkhazians might think, and most of them are eager for peaceful and normal life, they will not dare to raise their voice. Young people have been grown up to hate Georgians. They are taught that the Georgians will annihilate, destroy them and take away their ethnos, language and writing. Yet, most Abkhazians themselves do not speak their own language as they have always studied in Russian schools. Of 10 words 8 are Russian ones, and it has always been so. We failed to oppose anything to century-long ideology of Kremlin and Russia. No one would let us form a civil society there. Yet we have not finished forming civil society here either. This can be done by our western friends who have the chance to enter into the area of Abkhazia and make business there. The important thing is that they should spend more effort and funds for this. They should shatter the basis of the dominant feudal order in Abkhazia that is a stronghold of Russia.
For another thing, Georgian side should show that it is ready
to distribute powers to regions and autonomies in order to reorganise federal in Abkhazia. It should as well be ready for new budget and economic order when 70% of Georgian business will not be concentrated in Tbilisi, when Tbilisi does not interfere in deciding who will be chairman of Sakrebulo and head of Tax Inspection department. We should show them what we are ready for and we should make steps, even at the level of declaration and laws.
The third important factor is a cultural-psychological one implying tolerant approach towards their culture and ethnos even, for instance, broadcasting in Abkhazian language or formation of Abkhazian language courses in one of language institutes by a state. It is a much desirable thing. They know our language and we do not ? yet, due to many reasons our state bodies will always need it as long as Georgian state exists. It is claimed that ? yet I will not say it as we know what language we should speak. Let us arrange exhibitions and disputes, recognise some mistakes and demonstrate that we do not need enmity. There is new time and new government in Georgia. The third part is the most difficult one, but it is the basis of everything. Let us first say to ourselves how we should live together and what we are ready for. I will not speak of already declared things about our economy and living standard becoming attractive for them. Our defence system should become so up-to-date that no one would even dare to think that Georgia is a weak state and that anybody could take anything as well as any territories away from it.
External aid and internal actions will destroy the community pyramid in Abkhazia as well as the stronghold of Russia’s intents relating to the seizure of other territories. Territories have reminded me of one actual issue ? despite Putin’s threat in November as to the creation of a new weapon, Russia is no longer the old Russia. Despite the fact that Russia’s currency reserves have exceeded 100 billion dollars and only this year foreign investments amounted to 34 billions and GDP grew to 7,8%, Russia’s economy still faces serious threat. By the level of production Russia being one of developing or as some experts think, one of badly developing countries is still a rotten dictator country.
Hence, Russia tries to cede territories to China and it really surrendered one near Vladivostok, on the bank of the Amur river. Instead, it does its best to penetrate into one of perspective Chinese markets. This was a touchstone for social reaction, as in autumn, in November Russia expressed its readiness to fulfil Japan’s long dream and to return islands that were occupied by Japan in the times of the tsarist Russia. During the World War II Stalin regained South Sakhalin and Kuril islands (they have strategic importance apart from economic one). Due to this very condition Stalin joined the Asian stage of the world war II. This concerns only two of Kuril islands: Shikotan and Khabomai though Japan claims two other ones ? Iturup and Kunashir that under the agreement with the allies in 1956 Japan recognised as parts of Russian territory.
Why does Russia cede the lands to Japan whereas it furtively, hysterically has tried to occupy Abkhazia? It is because Russia has no means to maintain the territories. For another thing, economic issues become more important than military strategy. Russia is eager to conclude an agreement with Japan on lifting trade and investment restrictions as it knows that if it fails to find a way for saving economy out of crisis, the myth of its military power (though it still remains one of the greatest military countries) might fall to pieces like a house of cards.
Hence, if we wish to subdue Russia’s ambition for Abkhazian territory, we should start co-operation with it in important economic projects, among them such important projects as construction of gas pipeline and Trans-Eurasian railway. Until Russia changes its military, territorial interests to economic ones, it will alienate its areas in the east holding on to historical Georgian lands in the west. My opponents might say that even if Russia enslaves us and deprive us of our freedom, even if we again depend on kerosene, we still should not trust Russia as it has a spirit of a power. No, my dears, we are not alone either, and if we resurrect King Irakli, still he will not sign the agreement; economic project does not mean vassalage and on the contrary, we find well-being through its affluent wealth. We must become a country and a state and thanks God we have enough powerful patrons. It is not XVIIIth and XXth century. Our territorial integrity and economic recovery has no other algorithm. As for dependence, 60% of our export-import still falls at the share of Russia. However, our politicians do not seem to be loyal to Russia in any issues. On the contrary, quite a seriously principal tone has been observed, and Russia often finds itself in a very awkward position due to its old-fashioned ambitions.