THERE IS NO OPPOSITION LOYAL TO GEORGIA IN ABKHAZIA, ABKHAZIAN JOURNALIST SAYS
Prime News Agency, Georgia
April 17 2006
Tbilisi. April 17 (Prime-News) – Marta Ardashelia, Prime-News reporter
interviewed Beslan Kmuzov, journalist from the breakaway Abkhazia.
Beslan Kmuzov, 1975, graduated from the secondary school in Sokhumi.
During the Georgian-Abkhazian hostilities he left for Cherkessia
and got enrolled in the Karachay-Cherkessia State University in
1993. In 1997 he continued his instruction by correspondence in the
Pyatigorsk Linguistic University. In 1997-1999 he was working in
the newspaper of the town of Cherkassy, in 2000-2001 – in the Exo
Abkhazia newspaper. In 2001-2002 served in the de facto armed forces
of Abkhazia. 2002-2004 was working as a marshal arts instructor in the
Sokhumi police academy. In 2004 he was working in the press service
of Sergey Baghapsh, Abkhazian Foreign Minister. In 2005 entered GIPA
(Zurab Zhvania Georgian Institute of Public Affairs). Presently he
is an editor of Abkhazia.info Internet edition.
It is difficult to say exact origin of this two-meter tall guy
immediately at the first sight. But even short conversation is enough
to make sure that he is Abkhazian – only residents of Sokhumi are
able to speak such Russian, combining slang with phraseological
expressions. One may even wonder how he can write his articles in
quite good Russian.
Beslan Kmuzov has been living in Tbilisi and studying in the
magistrates of GIPA for almost one year and a half. He is satisfied
with education, but says that he is too busy to continue his work
in journalism.
Beslan Kmuzov is one of few journalists who are well aware of the
situation in both parties in conflict. And what is more important he
is able to speak frankly about it.
According to him, the present situation in Abkhazia is simply another
struggle for redistribution of assets, as it happens in all parts of
the world. Only 10% of the local population is engaged in political
developments. They generate ideology and account for brainwashing.
Those most crafty residents of the breakaway region are only looking
for as much profits as possible.
“The authority in Abkhazia is close to people; Baghapsh (de facto
president) visits Akop’s coffee shop every day. But both the president
and the government depend on many institutions in Abkhazia, as well as
abroad. Baghapsh and Ankvab, de facto Prime Minister have been meeting
the representatives of different organizations in their offices for
three months. Leonid Lakerbaia, Chairman of the de facto Parliament
still puzzles over healthcare and pensions. But there are some criminal
factions that make everything worse in Abkhazia. They seized some
industrial units, including recreation houses and restaurants. They do
nothing to them and prevent others from business too. The government
is incapable to deal with them – they have power and money. This is
a transient period”, Beslan Kmuzov says.
According to him, there is no opposition loyal to Georgia in Abkhazia.
“There are opposition forces in Abkhazia but none of them speaks for
return within the Georgian borders. The main problem is redistribution
of assets. Despite of the fact that everyone declares about his
commitment to Russia, their only intention is to be in the driving
seat in Abkhazia, without interference of Russian”, Beslan Kmuzov says.
But the local elections are to be held in the breakaway region soon.
Amtsakhara, public political movement of veterans and Aytayra will
run in the elections against the ruling United Abkhazia party.
According to Beslan Kmuzov, the government will easily negotiate with
its contenders.
“Sergey Baghapsh was a common candidate of Amtsakhara, Aytayra and
United Abkhazia. Besides, headquarter of Baghapsh is located in
the office of Amtsakhara. It’s quite another matter that Amtsakhara
sometimes forwards certain claims against the government – one can’t
always get what one is looking for. So if they face serious rivals,
part of Amtsakhara is likely to join the ruling party”, Beslan says.
Abkhazia makes slow progress with regard to media diversity – all
Abkhazian web sites feature the same news, as if dictated.
“The Abkhazian mass media does not feature any opposition opinions
on the policy of the government of Abkhazia. The guiding light
is independence and that’s all. But there are many debates on
privatization, pensions, and protection of ethnic minorities, including
the residents of the Gali District in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict
zone. The information war has been raging in Abkhazia for one year. The
Nujnaia newspaper drove Vladislav Ardzinba (former de facto president)
up a tree. Means to the end are another subject of discussion. In fact
there is no uninterrupted flow of news, everyone features news without
profound knowledge of background story, rule of Five W is completely
denied. Experienced professionals are leaving”, Beslan Kmuzov says.
Migration in Abkhazia is intensive. Russians are not too willing to
go to Abkhazia owing to harsh living conditions. According to the
de facto State Committee, there are 60 000 Georgians in the Gali
District only. Besides, Georgians live in Ochamchire and Tkvarcheli
districts. The least number of Georgians lives in Sockhumi, Capital
City. But Armenians still account for the largest part of the
foreigners arriving in Abkhazia.
The issue of migration is the most urgent before the forthcoming
presidential elections. Alexander Ankvab, de facto Prime Minister
demands immediate address to the problem of illegal registration of
Armenians in Abkhazia, in defiance of the residential qualification,
as those registrations are used in application for the Abkhazian and
later for Russian passports.
“I think that there are more Armenians than Abkhazians there. By the
way, even Georgians population prevails, however they are not allowed
to take any offices. Abkhazians are the only part of the population
that lives in freedom. It’s quite another matter that rate of Armenian
migration to Abkhazia is growing above other ethnic groups.
Their presence in Abkhazia becomes more and more evident”, Beslan
Kmuzov says.
When asked what Abkhazia is looking n from Russia, Beslan Kmuzov
shrugs shoulders.
“It is strange; we kind of have gained independence, now we want to
be bound to some other party. But in fact this is the only choice for
us. 2004 presidential elections was successful test for determination
of the Abkhazians. But murder of one of the most powerful relatives
of the former president in Moscow came of surprise. If he has not
he been murdered he would probably become a president and leave all
other contenders far behind”, Beslan Kmuzov said.
But as the popular saying goes, new it is well forgotten old.
Therefore I remind him of Ubykhs that used to live in Sochi and now
there are none of them.
“No, the Ubykhs must blame themselves. They had to make up their
minds in time. To fight with Russia means to fight indeed. To live in
peace means to live in peace. Englishmen deceived them, they promised
to support and betrayed in the decisive moment. As for Abkhazians,
they do not count on anyone’s help”, Beslan Kmuzov claims.
But here is another question – what about the fraternal Caucasian
nations and their help?
“The representatives of the ethnic groups of Adygh origin express
their sympathy with Abkhazia. But they also suffer lack of unbiased
information. They do not even exactly know what happened in Abkhazia
before 1992 and are not well aware of the present developments too.
The local vendible politicos do not let Cherkesians, Adyghs and
Kabardians unite to be able to deny political course dictated by
Russia. They also hinder economic development of the region. This is
the core problem of the North Caucasus. But saying that those nations
will join hostilities in Abkhazia once again is contradictory –
Russia will simply step aside to let those nations mangle each other.
We have already experienced it during the Georgian-Abkhazian
hostilities in 1992”, he says
The Abkhazian journalist also does not like the recent developments
in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.
“I have spoken to Mikheil Makharadze, Chairman of Parliament of the
Autonomous Republic. It is evident that the local regional authority
of the autonomous republic is formal. They are not able to make any
decisions without prior agreement with the center”, Beslan Kmuzov
says in disappointment.
The conversation with Beslan Kmuzov makes the lamentable state of the
Abkhazian people evident – they might take their crave for independence
to extreme edge. However Beslan Kmuzov is optimistic over the future.
“Time will cross all “t’s” and dot all “i’s”, he says.
Let’s wait and see.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress