To Presidential Administration of Ukraine
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Union of Writers of Ukraine
ADDRESS
Russia, whether it be imperial or Bolshevik (Soviet), or the current one, robed in a “democratic mantle”, in relation to neighboring states, primarily Georgia, Ukraine has always pursued and continues to carry out a policy of “creeping” annexation until this day, alternating elements of soft and rough (undisguised) annexation, with the advantage of the latter.
The international world community, most regrettably, did not give due importance of the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia and in 2008 the Russian-Georgian war in the Tskhinvali region thereby giving Russia the opportunity to “soft” annexation of the ancestral territories of Georgia.
The political impudence of Russia’s current rulers, including the political infantilism of some leaders of the leading European countries, has continued toward sovereign Ukraine. In 2014, Russia “gently” occupied and annexed Crimea, and then with the aim of “protecting the Russian-speaking population” launched a war in the Donbas bringing separatists to “power” there.
Russia’s policy of “whip” (Ukraine, Georgia) and “biscuit” (Belarus, Armenia), apparently, is associated with the desire to jump into the last carriage of a train departing into complete oblivion under the name such as the USSR so beloved by them.
However, the current leaders of Russia, living economically by the standards close to the life of the oligarchs for the laundering of large national money, apparently, ideologically remained the USSR’s worthy sons, and in the soul cherish the dream of the revival of some country, which, like the USSR, will become a significant player on the political map of the world. But, knowing the weak capabilities of the Russian economy, which is only 1.67% of the MVP, unlike the United States (about 24.85%) and China (about 16.45%), the Russian leadership decided to bet on Ukraine solely on “rattling” weapons, escalating tensions and misinformation war.
We, representatives of science and education, united in the Academy of Sciences of Tskhum Abkhazia, mainly represent the natives of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, who, together with the rest of the Georgian population, were expelled from our native lands by the Russian elitist armed forces in 1993 and 2008, express our full support to Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, representatives of the scientific, pedagogical and creative community in their struggle for independence and territorial integrity of the Motherland.
We would like to believe that there are still representatives of the scientific and creative intelligentsia in Russia, for whom the idea of invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine is categorically unacceptable.
Glory to Ukraine!
Tskhum-Abkhazian Academy of Sciences
President Temur Chilachava
Tbilisi, 09.02.2022
Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia
Abkhaz State University
Public of Abkhazia
Address
On April 14, Georgia celebrates the day of protection of its native language.
As is widely known, on April 14, 1978, Georgian citizens opposed the inhumane decision of the communist regime of the USSR to abolish the status of the state language in Georgia for the georgian language. Under powerful public pressure, the communist regime was forced to retreat, thereby in the republics the native language remained the state language.
Despite the absence of real steps to normalize the situation, part of the Georgian population of the Gali region of Abkhazia returned at risk to their native lands, where the centers and graves of their ancestors.
Unfortunately, the current authorities of Abkhazia, not limited to violating only the political rights of the Georgian population of Abkhazia, intensified a large-scale ideological war against all Georgian.
One of the obvious manifestations of this plan is the actual prohibition of instruction in Georgian in the Gali district, where only Georgians live. At the same time, Georgian schoolchildren are offered education selectively in Abkhaz or Russian, and taking into account, unfortunately, the lack of school textbooks in Abkhaz above the fifth grade, the only opportunity is instruction in Russian.
Obviously, someone cherishes the dream of “Abkhazia” of the Georgian population of the Gali region, and Moscow ideologists are confident that in the event of a forced choice of the language of instruction at school between Abkhaz and Russian, the Georgian population will choose Russian. Knowing the mentality of the Georgian people, about their desire for higher education, which is impossible in the Abkhaz language, Moscow is confident that in the event of the long-term preservation of the conflict desired for it, it will so “scattered” the Georgian population of the Gali region.
For decades, Abkhaz leaders have consistently replicated violations of Abkhaz rights that did occur by the communist regime in the 1940 s, when they had to study in Georgian schools.
We do not consider here the question of the feasibility for Abkhazians of obtaining secondary and higher education in Russian or Georgian, believing that this right should be absolutely free.
We would like to note that past clearly negative manifestations of the communist regime, which was equally cruel to everyone regardless of nationality, should not be an incentive for revanchist anti-human sentiments.
At the same time, the current Georgian authorities from the highest stands have repeatedly categorically declared only a peaceful solution to the conflict in Abkhazia.
It is clear that representatives of the scientific and creative intelligentsia should naturally express the aspirations of their peoples, but at the same time focus not so much on the tragic periods of our relationship, but, first of all, on the long centuries of our peaceful life together.
We urge the scientific and creative intelligentsia and the entire public of Abkhazia to prevent the violation of the elementary rights of the Georgian population of Abkhazia and provide the young generation with the opportunity to receive secondary education in their native language. Otherwise, the current authorities of Abkhazia in the eyes of the world public may appear as apologists of established inhumane regimes.
In turn, we Georgians and Abkhazians must, together with the world community, primarily the United States, Europe, Russia, find a much-needed “modus vivendi” for us, which will be acceptable, from the point of view of historical justice and a democratic comprehensive solution to the problem.
Temur Chilachava
Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, President of the Academy of Sciences Tskhum-Abkhazian, Professor of Sokhumi State University