Georgia: Ethnic Georgian District in Abkhazia Becomes Election Issue

Zeina Mvemba

4:42 PM

9/18/09

Georgia, a country known for many disputes and war has become involved in a dispute against Russian supported Abkhazia. Abkhazia has recently become independent from Georgia, and gained the favor of Russia. The problem arises in Gali, a district of Abkhazia which is predominantly Georgian. Under influence of Russia, the Abkhazia government has been pushing Gali to accept Abkhazian citizenship despite their Georgian heritage. A recent election that only Abkhazian residents can participate in, has put a strain on the residents of Gali who want to participate, but cannot because of their loyalty to Georgia. To gain the right to vote, Gali residents must give up their Georgian passports. Without efforts to maintain the number of Georgians in Abkhazia, Gali could turn into a war zone. Troops have surrounded Abkhazia’s border in an attempt to keep the Georgian’s out, with the help Russian troops. Almost as if there are two different countries in one; the fighting has been compared to apartheid.

In every ethnic situation, you always have to remember the innocent citizens who are suffering for nothing. Fighting within a country always leads to devastation, despite the amount of fighting. Also, I think without the influence of Russia, the fighting may not have escalated to the point of where it is now. When countries try to intervene with other countries disputes, more than likely there is a hidden agenda of that country. Russia probably does not have Abkhazia’s best interest at heart, which will ultimately solve nothing.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav091509b.shtml