RESOLUTION on Condemning the Genocide and other Repressive Measures against the Abkhaz People and representatives of other Nations residing in Abkhazia, resorted by the government of the Georgian Democratic Republic and the Soviet Georgia, and on Overcoming of their Aftermath ADOPTED BY THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY – THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA

At the end of 19^th century, after deportation of the majority of Abkhaz-Adigey and other peoples in the process of developing the Caucasus lands, the Georgian intelligentsia, nobility and bourgeoisie had got an idea to create a small Georgian Empire. However, the military-political, ethno-demographical and other conditions didn’t provide them opportunity to fulfill this idea within the Caucasus area. In the following period Georgian nationalists attached the greatest effort to establish their colonial ambition and special rights over Abkhazia, and in practice – towards incorporation of Abkhaz lands within the reestablished state of Georgia.

The governments had been changing, as well as the public-economic formations and generations of Georgian politicians; however the ambitions of a latter to devour Abkhazia remained the same, moreover, it used to gain a fresh breath. Georgia elaborated two ways to take over Abkhazia: the first was a peaceful way, i.e. mechanical increase of Georgian population in Abkhazia and artificial assimilation of Abkhazs, and the second – military, bred by aggressive nationalism, i.e. the occupation of the country and annihilation of the aborigines people.

The major obstacle on the way of achieving this Georgian goal of colonization was the Abkhaz population remaining after deportation. They directed their forces against this population.

The measures for assimilation of Abkhazs was carried out even at the Russian Tsar’s regime through resettlement of Abkhazs and distortion the history of the people. After dissolution of the Russian Empire and creation of the Georgian Democratic Republic (1918-1921), a new wave of distress befell on the Abkhaz People. The military-political leadership of Georgia resorted aggressive act against Abkhazia and occupied its territory under the pretext of fighting against Bolshevism, intentionally expelling the Abkhazs, Greeks, Armenians and others, and at the places of their residence settled the new Georgian colonialists from the Western part of Georgia. Exclusively Georgian schools had been open and the paperwork was translated into Georgian.

Revival of Abkhazia in the form of Soviet Socialist Republic took place on March of 1921 that established environment for physical survival of the nation, its social-economic and cultural development. However, at the end of the same year Stalin forced Abkhazia to conclude ‘the Special Union Treaty’ with Georgia, and 10 years later, on 19 February of 1931 the Abkhaz SSR was transformed into autonomous republic and included within the Georgian SSR.

Georgian authorities, backed by the Moscow, in early 30s unleashed campaign against Abkhaz national intelligentsia, farmers and Abkhaz people as a whole. It was followed by: artificial inclusion of Georgian words into Abkhaz vocabulary, closure of Abkhaz schools, termination of radio broadcast in Abkhaz language; renaming of geographical places, distortion of Abkhaz history etc. Abkhazs were forced to change the last names and nationality. At the same time comprehensive campaign of resettlement of Georgian on the territory of Abkhazia was in progress. To this end they established powerful construction entity ‘Abkhaz pereselenstroy’ and managerial staff at the Government of Abkhazia, as well as of Georgia. Resettlement was not volunteer process. In violation of established procedures the lands had been taken from Abkhaz villages and provided to Georgian peasants forcibly delivered there from various regions of Georgia.

Geography and structure of settlement of Georgians, as a rule on the territories with compact settlement Abkhazs (Ochamchire, Gudauta and Gagra Districts), as well as allocation of Georgian settlements along railway etc, against the peaceful background had an ethno-erosive effect, and in case of resistance from the side of Abkhaz population it took a nature of assimilation implemented through military strategy of Georgia. According to the modern International Law all of the aforementioned acts would have to be assessed as Genocide.

The houses and flats of Greeks, Turks, Lazs and others, exiled from Abkhazia, had been given to Georgians, delivered from different parts of Georgia with the aim to increase proportion of Georgian population in Abkhazia. Unbearable conditions established as a result of Georgian aggressive nationalism, made Abkhazs and other ethnics abandon the country. For example, in 1949-1953 more than 1500 Armenian families left Abkhazia.

Due to the Genocide and other repressive measures in the mid of 20^th century, the Abkhaz ethnic group in Samurzakano was almost completely Georgianized, that amounted up to 40 thousand people. Total number of Abkhazs from 1886 (59,0 thousand) until 1959 (61,2 thousand) had a miserable increase. At the same time, owing to migration and assimilation of Abkhazs, the number of Georgians was increased from 4 thousand up to 158 thousand.

There was a real threat of a total annihilation of Abkhazs from the World ethnographical map. Only the end of Stalin’s totalitarian regime survived the Abkhaz people from disappearance. However, Abkhazia remained being a part of Georgia, and the Georgian authorities, through opening of enterprises, schools and other institutions, continued artificial increase of Georgian population in a covert manner. The following period of Abkhazia’s existence within the Georgian SSR was a constant fighting for survival and liberation from Tbilisi regime. In a more decisive manner the latter was expressed in 1956, 1964, 1967, 1978 and 1989. Having collapsed the USSR, the Abkhaz Georgian confrontation took a form of military aggression of Georgia against Abkhazia - - Abkhaz –Georgian War of 1992-1998.

Giving the legal-political assessment to the aforementioned facts and developments, the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia decrees:

1. To recognize:

a) Invasion of Troops of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in Abkhazia in 1918-1921 as the act of genocide and occupation;

b) Annihilation and artificial assimilation of Abkhazs, deliberative changing of demographic situation in Abkhazia, forcible introduction of Georgian language in Abkhazia carried out by the military-political regime of Georgia of 1918-1921, as the acts of genocide.

2. To recognize the inclusion of the Abkhaz SSR within the Georgian SSR with the status of autonomous republic, as deliberative and unlawful political act against Abkhaz People and its statehood.

3. Heavy crime against mankind, committed by Georgian SSR in 30-40s in Abkhazia, resulted in slaughtering of national intelligentsia, advanced farmers, changing of Abkhaz alphabet into a Georgian model, closure of Abkhaz schools, termination of operation of Abkhaz radio, renaming of geographical places, distortion of history, artificial changes of demographic situation in Abkhazia shall be recognized as Genocide against the Abkhaz people.

4. To recognize the Abkhaz people as a subject of previous repression, and the Greeks, Turks and Lazs, expelled from Abkhazia in 40s, as national groups of Abkhazia, subject of repression.

5. To recognize as national movement for liberation from colonial regime of the Soviet Georgia, the mass demonstrations in Abkhazia in 1931, 1956, 1964, 1967, 1978 and 1989.

6. Based on the historical experience, to recognize, that the sovereign, democratic republic of Abkhazia, based on the rule of law, is the principal guarantor of social-economic and cultural revival of Abkhaz nation, as well as the guarantor of protection of rights and freedoms of all ethnics residing in Abkhazia.

7. Proceeding from the grave demographic situation in Abkhazia that is a legacy of our history, we advise to the President and the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia, to elaborate long-term policy and program of demographic development of Abkhazia.

8. To entrust the Legal Committee, the Committee on Sciences and Culture and the Commission on traditional culture “Apsuara” of the People’s Assembly of Abkhazia, with the task of elaborating the draft-laws and resolutions aimed at promoting the demographic situation in Abkhazia and development of the Abkhaz language, culture and traditions.

9. The Committee on science, education and culture of the People’s Assembly of Abkhazia shall speed up the work on the draft-laws on comprehensive restoration of names of historical places and other residential settlements of the Republic of Abkhazia.

10. The Abkhaz Institute on Humanitarian Research named after D. Gulia and the Abkhaz State University shall intensify the work on salient problems of history, language and culture of the Abkhaz people, publish and popularize them. To this end the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Abkhazia shall allocate additional funds.

11 To entrust the Legal Committee and the Human Rights Commission of the People’s Assembly of Abkhazia with the task of elaborating the draft-laws on rehabilitation of national groups of Abkhazia (Greeks, Lazs, Turks and other), being the subject of previous repressions.

Speaker of the People’s Assembly

- the Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia S. Jinjolia.

15 October 1997, City of Sukhum.

(Newspaper “Respublika Abkhazia”, № 109, 5-6 November 1997)