Anas Kishmaria's address to the Day of Recognition of the Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by the Russian Federation.
26 August 2023
On August 26, the Republic of Abkhazia celebrates the Day of International Recognition of Independence. On this day 15 years ago, the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree recognizing the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
This date marked a qualitatively new stage in the establishment and development of our State. Following Russia, the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was recognized by a number of other countries. These events were the starting point in establishing official diplomatic channels of communication, building a foreign policy and breaking the international blockade.
It should be remembered that such a dynamic development of Abkhazia was preceded by a long, complex and painstaking path of the national liberation movement. Thus, an important milestone on the way to international recognition was the adoption on November 26, 1994 by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Abkhazia of the 12th convocation of the Constitution, followed by its approval by popular vote (referendum) on October 3, 1999. The Constitution laid a solid foundation for building a sovereign, democratic state, and the document turned out to be quite advanced for that time. On October 12, 1999, the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba and deputies of the Peoples Assembly signed the Act "On the State Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia";, thereby summing up the long-term struggle of the people for free self-determination. Later, the ex-speaker of the Peoples Assembly of Abkhazia, Socrat Jinjolia, noted: "The main thing was that Abkhazia had already taken place as a state. Not just a territory with a population – it has become an independent state in reality, otherwise Russia would not have recognized us."
Fateful decisions were made in difficult conditions for Abkhazia. The unresolved Georgian-Abkhaz conflict only aggravated the situation, giving the Georgian authorities an opportunity for a new act of aggression. On the night of August 7-8, 2008, the Georgian armed forces began shelling Tskhinval. This bloody five-day war had its own geopolitical consequences.
On August 26, 2008, Dmitry Medvedev made an official statement in connection with the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Recognition was consistent with the norms and principles of international law, the provisions of the UN Charter, the Vienna Declaration and other generally recognized international legal acts. On September 9, 2008, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia established official diplomatic relations by exchanging notes between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both States. Although at present most countries of the world community deny the independence of Abkhazia, referring to the violation of the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia, the right of peoples to self-determination still remains one of the fundamental principles of international law.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of independence in the context of converting the experience of human rights activities between world organizations and local institutions. The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Abkhazia is actively working to develop international contacts with the relevant institutions of the countries that recognized the independence of Abkhazia. Thus, on July 14, 2023, Anas Kishmaria and the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation Tatyana Moskalkova signed an Agreement on Mutual Understanding.
Abkhazia continues its state-building as a sovereign, democratic, law-governed country in which human and civil rights and freedoms are central.
This date marked a qualitatively new stage in the establishment and development of our State. Following Russia, the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was recognized by a number of other countries. These events were the starting point in establishing official diplomatic channels of communication, building a foreign policy and breaking the international blockade.
It should be remembered that such a dynamic development of Abkhazia was preceded by a long, complex and painstaking path of the national liberation movement. Thus, an important milestone on the way to international recognition was the adoption on November 26, 1994 by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Abkhazia of the 12th convocation of the Constitution, followed by its approval by popular vote (referendum) on October 3, 1999. The Constitution laid a solid foundation for building a sovereign, democratic state, and the document turned out to be quite advanced for that time. On October 12, 1999, the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba and deputies of the Peoples Assembly signed the Act "On the State Independence of the Republic of Abkhazia";, thereby summing up the long-term struggle of the people for free self-determination. Later, the ex-speaker of the Peoples Assembly of Abkhazia, Socrat Jinjolia, noted: "The main thing was that Abkhazia had already taken place as a state. Not just a territory with a population – it has become an independent state in reality, otherwise Russia would not have recognized us."
Fateful decisions were made in difficult conditions for Abkhazia. The unresolved Georgian-Abkhaz conflict only aggravated the situation, giving the Georgian authorities an opportunity for a new act of aggression. On the night of August 7-8, 2008, the Georgian armed forces began shelling Tskhinval. This bloody five-day war had its own geopolitical consequences.
On August 26, 2008, Dmitry Medvedev made an official statement in connection with the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Recognition was consistent with the norms and principles of international law, the provisions of the UN Charter, the Vienna Declaration and other generally recognized international legal acts. On September 9, 2008, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia established official diplomatic relations by exchanging notes between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both States. Although at present most countries of the world community deny the independence of Abkhazia, referring to the violation of the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia, the right of peoples to self-determination still remains one of the fundamental principles of international law.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of independence in the context of converting the experience of human rights activities between world organizations and local institutions. The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Abkhazia is actively working to develop international contacts with the relevant institutions of the countries that recognized the independence of Abkhazia. Thus, on July 14, 2023, Anas Kishmaria and the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation Tatyana Moskalkova signed an Agreement on Mutual Understanding.
Abkhazia continues its state-building as a sovereign, democratic, law-governed country in which human and civil rights and freedoms are central.