Georgia Drug Use: Georgia Abkhazia Conflict

We often hear flashy news headlines and updates about war conflicts around the globe. We are fed with information, which is often exaggerated, opinionated with little facts, inaccurate and bias. This information leads us to form opinions and solutions to the issue without knowing the background or the details involved. I had my own views and opinions about the conflict in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. After doing my research on history in Georgia, I began to realize the more complicated and deeper roots of the problems that caused the conflict. The military fighting started in the early 1990s on a large scale, but the complications that started this go farther back in history. As we read on, we will learn a little more in depth about Georgia’s conflict.

Green subtropical beaches on the Black Sea coast to high alpine mountains; Georgia was always a popular getaway for citizens of the much colder climate Soviet Union. The Georgian people are known for great hospitality, exceptional wine brewing and they have their own unique alphabet. All though the Georgian people have been around for thousands of years, for the last few centuries this country has been ruled by other kingdoms including the Mongols, Arabs, Turks and finally the Russians (History Georgia). In the early Soviet times Georgia became a part of the Soviet Union. Abkhazia was part of the Georgian Republic in the north-west region during the Soviet Union times. With popular palm-beach resorts, a warm climate and perfect soil for agriculture, Abkhazia attracted around three million tourists a year from the Soviet Union alone. The size of Abkhazia is a little smaller than the big island of Hawaii.

Under the Soviet rule, Abkhazia was a region within Georgia politically and geographically. Both ethnic groups, Abkhazians and Georgians were natives of this land and did not share the same native language. Most of the time they were able to communicate because they learned Russian as their second language. The Russian language was dominant throughout all the Soviet Union during the communist era. During the early 1990s, the Soviet Union came to an end, and Georgia gained independence. At the same time Abkhazia did not want to stay with Georgia so they separated from them by military force. Since then, the Abkhaz people consider themselves independent from Georgia, but their independence is still under dispute and it is not supported or recognized internationally.

I was born in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, in the city of Sukhumi the capital center of the Abkhazian region. I remember our last two-story house was really big compared to the house we lived in before. It had a Victorian style staircase on the outside that went up to our balcony. We had thin tube arches that went over the drive-way and grape vines twisted around the tubes. It was fun to play in the back yard where we had twelve mandarin trees, which out of all the citrus fruit is my favorite. We had a medium size greenhouse where my mom grew tulips.

I remember the Black Sea was only a few minutes west in walking distance from our house. I didn’t know how to swim then, but I loved playing in the waves. Some blocks to the north there was the Gumista River. I remember the “Gumista” sign when we drove over the bridge. Before you get to the bridge, there was the small bakery where we walked to buy warm bread. Me and my older brother use to explore the railroad territory that was behind our neighbor’s cornfield. I was afraid to go there myself because the area was new to me. He took me to see the Gumista River one day, but we didn’t go down to it, because the drop off was steep. Later I felt comfortable and explored the area by myself. But the river still seemed big to me, and I was afraid to go down to the water myself. What I liked the most about Sukhumi were the palm trees and the tropical plants, they made me feel warm even if it snowed in the winter. There were many times when my dad took our family in our car around green jungles that went up in to the Caucasus Mountains; there were sheep in the valleys and old broken castles around the mountains.

The year 1989, this was our last year before we came to America. We applied for a Visa to leave, and we got it. This was also the beginning of the Georgia Abhkazia Conflict. We didn’t know there was a war coming to this area. But during this last year, everyone felt the tension. We sold our house in advance without having to move out until our flight date. There were rumors and talk about the violence in Tbilisi Georgia’s Capital, and the airport security in Sukhumi was raised to a higher alert. I remember seeing more military vehicles driving around on the streets. Our last day in Sukhumi, my parents packed all night long preparing for our trip. I remember everyone seemed nervous at the airport, and that was the last time I saw Sukhumi.

Georgia became prosperous when the Soviet Union was under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. He was originally from Georgia, born with the Georgian last name Djugashvili, but once he became a leader he changed it to Stalin meaning “man of steel” (Joseph Stalin Biography). Because he had a great deal of power over Soviet Union at the time, he helped Georgia open up new enterprises and build its economy. While the positive growth was a big leap for Georgians, Stalin’s hatred of minorities living in Georgia hardened. The Abkhazian people were among the minorities who began to suffer the consequences of this prejudice. Schools in Georgia were forced only to teach the Georgian language, while the Abkhazian language was banned altogether. Thousands of Abkhazians were executed during this time. Abkhazian names of particular places were changed to Georgian names, and the Abkhaz alphabet was changed to a Georgian based alphabet. Even their passports could not state their Abkhazian nationality. Thousands of Abkhazians were deported out of their land as Russians and Georgians filled their vacancies. Even though many of them were able to stay, the Abkhazian people did not forget these times when they were cleansed from their land because of their ethnicity.

During the 1930’s and 40’s Stalin was accused of every crime imaginable committed by the government.

Under the new softer political leadership of Nikita Khrushchev, anti-Stalinist retaliations began to develop throughout the Soviet Union. This raised the opinion that Stalin’s harsh actions were made because of his Georgian origin. The opinion especially raised criticism against Georgian youth who idolized Stalin from the very beginning of his career (History of Georgia). The Georgians were offended by the anti-Stalinist movement, especially college students who began to hold meetings and demonstration rallies in the center of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi. They tried to defend Stalin’s views, and they criticized new policies made by Khrushchev. On March 9th, 1956 the Soviet Army shot the participants of the demonstrations in Tbilisi, killing about one hundred Georgians, and wounding another three hundred. Although Georgia still remained a Soviet Republic after this incident, most of its people lost their trust in the Russian dominated Soviet rule from this point on.

An invisible wall was being built between the Georgian people, and the Soviet government in their minds and hearts. Under new Soviet leadership, the Abkhazians began to receive support from the Soviet government, in their north-western part of Georgia. Their situation completely reversed from the cruel state they were in. They were considered equal to Georgians now, their passports were changed to show their ethnicity, and they began teaching their language in the schools the way they wanted to. They were free to practice their own traditions that were heavily restricted during Stalin’s time. In the late seventies Abkhazia was given forty percent of government and judicial control in their territory under the communist rule. Although this freedom was given to them, it was still considered part of the Georgian Republic.

Because the Georgians had a much larger population and more government power throughout Abkhazia, tensions kept rising throughout the seventies and eighties between the two ethnic groups. Abkhazians were already unhappy with their past experience of persecution by Georgians during Stalin’s time. As time went on, they claimed that Georgian authorities repeatedly violated the Abkhazian rights. During these years, a Georgian national movement was growing. Georgia wanted to become independent of the Soviet Union and by 1988 the national movement became stronger on a wide scale. Among the leaders of this movement were former Georgian prisoners who came out of Soviet prison camps. Peaceful demonstrations began to form around the capital center in Tbilisi. However the Soviet government was against the demonstrations in Tbilisi, and sent the Soviet Army to stop them by force. On April 9th, 1989 twenty demonstrators were attacked and killed at night, most of them were Georgian women (Georgia History). After this day, the Soviet Communist Party lost all influence in the Georgian republic. The national movement became the main motivation for Georgia’s new government. It was a process that was chaotic and unorganized, it soon opened the door for the election of the new Georgian leader Zviad Gamsakhurdia on October 28th, 1990.

Gamsakhurdia created a problem by placing inflexible policy throughout Georgia which ignored the rights of minorities, and altered Georgia’s constitution to exclude Abkhazian votes in the government. Abkhazia fearing the new Georgian policies, immediately reacted to the Georgian racism by declaring Abkhazia as an independent country, and elected Vladislav Ardzinba as their new leader. Gamsakhurdia’s policy also raised tension in the middle region of Georgia, called South Ossetia which was populated by the Ossetian minority. The Ossetians began opposition with the Georgians fearing they might be persecuted because they are not of Georgian ethnicity. At this time the Georgian people felt Gamsakhurdia wasn’t dealing correctly with the conflicts between Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In January 1992 Gamsakhurdia was overthrown from office, and a new leader was elected, former Soviet politician Edward Shevardnadze. He was able to negotiate the conflict in South Ossetia, with an agreed cease-fire. But the conflict within Abkhazia was only beginning. Georgia felt Abkhazia belonged to them and they couldn’t stand and watch Abkhazia tear away to form a separate nation. So Shevardnadze sent in three thousand troops to Sukhumi which was the capital of Abkhazia. He claimed to the Abkhazian authorities he is sending the troops because “Georgian officials were kidnapped by former leader Gamsakhurdia supporters, who were headed for Sukhumi” (apsny.org). As the Georgian troops entered the Abkhazian territory, the Abkhaz authorities found out that the real intent of the troops was to overthrow the Abkhaz government and restore Georgian rule in Abkhazia. Immediately the Abkhaz government realized they needed to flee for protection out of Sukhumi. Ardzinmba and Abkhazian ministers quickly withdrew to northern Abkhazia in the Caucasus Mountains and called for the Abkhazian people to resist all Georgian troops coming in.

By October 1992 the Georgian troops moving from the south, were able to take over Sukhumi. They took over the city all the way north to the Gumista River where Abkhazian volunteer forces were able to set up an offensive blocking the north shore of the river, while the Georgians were on the south shore. This was as far as the Georgians advanced during the war and the Gumista River in northern Sukhumi became the major front line. The Georgian forces, in an act of disrespect and senselessness to the Abkhazian nation, burned down the state archive and the archives of the Institute of Abkhazian language, history and literature (apsny.org). Abkhazians claim that during this time Georgians were burning Abkhazian houses, robbing them and murdering civilians. Because of this, thousands of Abkhazians fled Sukhumi fearing their lives.

The Abkhazians were by far outnumbered by the Georgian forces. But the war was about to reverse that took the Georgia Abkhazia conflict to a new level. Even though Abkhazia’s big northern neighbor Russia denies the claims, by 1993 with their interest in the region, the Russians began to assist Abkhazians in the war against the Georgians (apsny.org). They supplied them with all the necessary equipment for battle, and even sent in Russian troops to fight against Georgians. The new support from Russia gave the Abkhazians a strong advantage over the Georgians in Sukhumi and throughout the Abkhazian region. The Abkhazians with the Russians began to push the Georgian forces south out of Sukhumi. On September 30th 1993 the Georgian army was defeated and many were captured, while the rest were pushed south towards Georgia still fighting. It was a very personal battle throughout the Abkhazian territory, especially in the villages where many were forced to battle against their former neighbors, coworkers, and even relatives because of mixed ethnicity. Many battle lines were formed throughout the villages and towns, people had no choice but to return fire at those who were shooting at them. Abkhazia finally freed itself from Georgia with Russia’s help.

Many Georgian civilians who remained in Sukhumi after Abkhazia took over again, claim they were forced to leave their homes or otherwise fight on the Abkhazian side (global IDP). For the hundred thousands of Georgians remaining in Abkhazia during this time, the “ethnic cleansing” became a reality. Many were murdered while others were tortured and forced to flee in to Russia and mostly western Georgia. An estimated total of 249,000 ethnic Georgians were still displaced from Abkhazia in 2003, that is about ten years later after they were forced to flee (causes and background). Most of them living along the western Abkhazia/Georgia border as refugees. About half of them lived in collective centers that are mainly former public buildings like schools, former hotels, factories, and hospitals. A large majority of them having little access to clean water, unsafe electric systems, and insufficient insulation. Some negotiations were made which helped many Georgian refugees to return home in to Abkhazia. Because of repeated violence against them, many had to flee back to the refugee centers in Georgia. Thousands of Georgians still displaced for over ten years now, hope for the best in returning home. Recent plans with international involvement are coming up with promising solutions to free the displaced refugees back to Abkhazia.

All though Abkhazia gained a victory over its territory, fierce fighting continued throughout until an official cease-fire in 1994. The cease-fire helped stop the full-scale war, but on and off fighting has continued between both sides even till the day I wrote this. Over ten years of this ongoing distress caused the economy to plunge in both Georgia and Abkhazia. To make matters worse, Abkhazia has economic sanctions on its imports and exports because its independence is not recognized by any other country in the world. It is still considered a part of Georgia all though Georgia has no control over it. Russia’s financial, political and military support in Abkhazia is growing substantially every year despite the sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Abkhazia.

The 1993-94 Gumista River front-line in Sukhumi was a long and deadly battle between the Abkhazians and the Georgians which lasted almost a whole year. Over ten thousand people died during those months from that battle. When this battle was over, the big two story house we sold in 1989 only had the foundation left because it was bombed on the Gumista River front line. According to the Landmine Monitor Report in 1999, there were still a hundred and thirty three separate minefields stretching ten kilometers south from the bridge over the Gumista River down the black sea coast along the western edge of Sukhumi (landmine monitor). There are also major minefields that go inland along the Gumista River area (landmine clearance). The high fertility of the soil along the river attracts families who continued to live in local neighborhoods growing small citrus groves, despite the close proximity to large minefields. A few mines were washed out by the river in to the sea where they were removed by Abkhazian engineers. The good news is conditions are improving over all since 1999. In 2002, in Abkhazia, an international mine clearing organization called HALO Trust, cleared 858,688 square meters of mine-affected land and destroyed 456 antipersonnel mines, 127 antivehicle mines, and 749 unexploded ordnance explosives (UXO) (landmine monitor). Unfortunately, there are still reports that new mines are being laid around Abkhazia by Georgians, Abhazians and Russian “peacekeepers”, but not nearly as much as in 1993/94.

Georgia’s economy relied heavily on Russia during the Soviet era. Because Russia helped Abkhazia defeat the Georgians, serious tensions were formed between the two nations and Georgia’s economy fell even more. Russian troops helping the Abkhazians, claimed Georgia trained and supported terrorist groups which had ties with Chechnyan terrorists from Gerogia’s northern border. Georgia denies these accusations, and claims Russian “peace keepers” in Abkhazia need to be removed because they start more conflicts than help with peace in the territory.

Georgia’s future now seems more promising. Edward Shevardnadze who lead Georgia since the 1993 conflict was forced out of office by protestors in November 2003. Shevardnadze is blamed for causing corruption and bribery in the Georgian government during his ten year term, including drugs and illegal arms trafficking (End of Shev.). He was replaced by Mikheil Saakashvili who is now helping Georgia steer away from corruption. By presidential decree, Saakashvili established an Anti-Corruption Council that is helping to enforce tougher laws against corruption in all levels of the political system throughout Georgia. The new President is finally trying his best to fix ties with Russia again, in order to stabilize Georgia’s economy and solve Abkhazia’s conflict as soon as possible. He is working with leaders around the world to come up with solutions for the Abkhazian conflict. Russia is pushing Abkhazia for a faster resolution to help Georgian refugees return to Abkhazia peacefully. After researching the history and details of the conflict, I began to realize how much was lost because of it. My heart goes out to those who lost their lives, their loved ones, and their land. I cannot take one side or the other, but pray for peace in Abkhazia and Georgia. I am hoping for the best, and I believe the time is coming soon where the two sides will finally find solutions that both parties can agree on.

The Georgia Abkhazia Conflict Still remains. We only have highest hopes for peace in this region as soon as possible.

NARCONON Georgia helps street kids sniff glue and Scientology – WARNING! We use the dangerous and useless sauna detoxification system made up by L. Ron Hubbard! Scientology is “… capable of such danger that the public interest demands that people should know what is going on” — Lord Denning Scientology “… is an organization with medical, social and ethical practices that are dangerous and harmful. It claims to act freely so as to draw members who subsequently undergo brainwashing by dictated ways of thinking that limit reaction capabilities.” — Judge Constandia Angelaki

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