Anas Kishmaria and Tatiana Moskalkova held a video meeting
15 June 2023
For the first time, the Ombudsmen of Abkhazia and Russia discussed interaction and cooperation on a number of issues.
The colleagues greeted each other, mutually noting that they were glad to have the first working meeting. Tatiana Moskalkova said that she was in Abkhazia in 2008.
"I saw the truth with my own eyes, I saw the destruction caused to your country during the war. I know the price of Abkhazias independence," Tatiana Moskalkova said starting the meeting.
Anas Kishmaria spoke about the development and formation of civil society institutions in Abkhazia.
"It reached a high level during the period of the so- called "Georginization", when the indigenous population of the republic, ethnic Abkhazians were deprived of the opportunity to speak their native language, changed toponymy, conducted competitive selection for vacant positions in the public administration system on ethnic grounds. On August 14, 1992, when the troops of the State Council of Georgia treacherously attacked our peaceful republic, it actually became the starting point of the formation of an independent sovereign Abkhazian state," Kishmaria said.
The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Abkhazia noted that in January 1992 the Supreme Council of the Abkhazian ASSR joined the"Universal Declaration of Human Rights". Then this decision was reflected in the new Constitution of independent Abkhazia in 1994. Article 11 of the Constitution states that "the Republic of Abkhazia recognizes and guarantees human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights"
Speaking about the prospects for the development of the Ombudsman institution in Abkhazia, Anas Kishmaria identified four priority areas:
1. Formation and development of cooperation with human rights institutions of friendly countries of Abkhazia and, above all, with our strategic partner the Russian Federation;
2. Information and educational work;
3. Strengthening of interaction and dialogue between the executive and civil society;
4. Improvement of the countrys human rights legislation and the Law "On the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Abkhazia"
"We count on your support in the prospect of the participation of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Abkhazia in international events, in the possibility of participation for our staff in professional development programs in this area" the Abkhazian Ombudsman said. Tatiana Moskalkova said that the Institute of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation conducts many trainings, lectures and conferences. The Russian Ombudsman invited her Abkhazian colleagues to participate in all upcoming events.
The Commissioner of the Russian Federation told about the history of the institute in Russia. Last year alone, the department received 79.5 thousand appeals, of which 13 thousand situations were resolved, and human rights were restored.
"We have all the tools to make the Institute accessible to people. There is a hotline, an electronic reception. Now most of the appeals are related to events in the SWO zone. We participate in lawmaking, the State Duma, as a rule, takes into account our proposals," Moskalkova said.
Tatiana Moskalkova spoke about cooperation with foreign colleagues.
The Ombudsman noted that the Institute closely cooperates with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.Tatiana Moskalkova invited Anas Kishmaria to take part in the meeting of the Eurasian Alliance of Ombudsmen in October 2023.
The parties also discussed plans for a bilateral meeting and a wide range of issues on the joint human rights agenda.
This was the first meeting of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Abkhazia with his Russian counterpart.
The colleagues greeted each other, mutually noting that they were glad to have the first working meeting. Tatiana Moskalkova said that she was in Abkhazia in 2008.
"I saw the truth with my own eyes, I saw the destruction caused to your country during the war. I know the price of Abkhazias independence," Tatiana Moskalkova said starting the meeting.
Anas Kishmaria spoke about the development and formation of civil society institutions in Abkhazia.
"It reached a high level during the period of the so- called "Georginization", when the indigenous population of the republic, ethnic Abkhazians were deprived of the opportunity to speak their native language, changed toponymy, conducted competitive selection for vacant positions in the public administration system on ethnic grounds. On August 14, 1992, when the troops of the State Council of Georgia treacherously attacked our peaceful republic, it actually became the starting point of the formation of an independent sovereign Abkhazian state," Kishmaria said.
The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Abkhazia noted that in January 1992 the Supreme Council of the Abkhazian ASSR joined the"Universal Declaration of Human Rights". Then this decision was reflected in the new Constitution of independent Abkhazia in 1994. Article 11 of the Constitution states that "the Republic of Abkhazia recognizes and guarantees human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights"
Speaking about the prospects for the development of the Ombudsman institution in Abkhazia, Anas Kishmaria identified four priority areas:
1. Formation and development of cooperation with human rights institutions of friendly countries of Abkhazia and, above all, with our strategic partner the Russian Federation;
2. Information and educational work;
3. Strengthening of interaction and dialogue between the executive and civil society;
4. Improvement of the countrys human rights legislation and the Law "On the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Abkhazia"
"We count on your support in the prospect of the participation of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Abkhazia in international events, in the possibility of participation for our staff in professional development programs in this area" the Abkhazian Ombudsman said. Tatiana Moskalkova said that the Institute of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation conducts many trainings, lectures and conferences. The Russian Ombudsman invited her Abkhazian colleagues to participate in all upcoming events.
The Commissioner of the Russian Federation told about the history of the institute in Russia. Last year alone, the department received 79.5 thousand appeals, of which 13 thousand situations were resolved, and human rights were restored.
"We have all the tools to make the Institute accessible to people. There is a hotline, an electronic reception. Now most of the appeals are related to events in the SWO zone. We participate in lawmaking, the State Duma, as a rule, takes into account our proposals," Moskalkova said.
Tatiana Moskalkova spoke about cooperation with foreign colleagues.
The Ombudsman noted that the Institute closely cooperates with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.Tatiana Moskalkova invited Anas Kishmaria to take part in the meeting of the Eurasian Alliance of Ombudsmen in October 2023.
The parties also discussed plans for a bilateral meeting and a wide range of issues on the joint human rights agenda.
This was the first meeting of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Abkhazia with his Russian counterpart.