APPEAL OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF ABKHAZIA V. ARDZINBA to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers – the Government of the Russian Federation V.S. Chernomirdyn

Honorable Viktor Stepanovich!

Today, on 21 September 1993, the forces of the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation have closed the Russian-Abkhaz border. In addition to the hardships and troubles caused by the Georgia’s one year war against Abkhazia, the multinational population of Abkhazia lost the last opportunity of getting food, gas, oil, medicines and living essentials. Over the recent four years, since the energy blockade, the system of water supply has not worked. The danger of infective episodes has considerably increased at the places of temporary compact accommodation of refugees, which exceed several 10 thousands in number.

The population of Abkhazia is indignant at the fact of introducing the rough economic sanctions against the Republic of Abkhazia, motivating them by the obligations pledged under Sochi Agreement. As shown in all documents of tripartite commission, the Abkhaz side, in contrast to Georgian one, strictly observed all items of the Agreement and has not refused to participate in the negotiation process. At the same time the Government of the Russian Federation has never applied any sanctions against Georgia during the whole year of the war. Moreover, the Russian Federation has expressed no reaction against postponement of implementation of obligations and of attempts to revise certain items of the Agreement. The Russian Federation, neglecting Georgia’s unwillingness to fulfill the obligations, has signed several trade-economic agreements with Georgia.

The leadership of the Republic of Abkhazia believes that the Ordinance issued by the Council of Ministers – the Government of the Russian Federation on introducing the economic sanctions against Abkhazia represents the decision, which, in fact, encourages the aggressor and is meant against the victim of aggression – the multiethnic people that is unjustified action.

We hope that the justice will be restored.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Abkhazia V. Ardzinba

21 September 1993

(Conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Documents 1989-2006 (Supplement to “Kavkazskie Sborniki”, edition #1). Collected and commented by M. A. Volkhonski, B. A. Zakharov, N. Y. Silaev. – Moscow, 2008, p. 275/in Russian)