Statement by Anas Kishmaria in connection with the initiative “Put an end to the isolation of Abkhazia”
10 August 2026
10 August 2026
Over the past few months, a public campaign “Put an end to the isolation of Abkhazia” has been conducted in the Republic of Turkey, initiated by representatives of the Abkhaz diaspora in connection with the ongoing international isolation of Abkhazia for 33 years and the resulting violations of the rights of its citizens to freedom of movement, medical care, education, and family unity.
The primary goal of the campaign is to achieve recognition of the Abkhaz passport as a document proving identity and granting the right to cross the Turkish border, as well as to open air and sea communication.
One of the main events within this public initiative was the joint statement by deputies of various political parties in support of it, made at a press conference in the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey.
This public campaign once again draws attention to the problem of the international isolation of the Republic of Abkhazia, which has continued since the Georgian–Abkhaz war of 1992–1993.
Unfortunately, numerous statements and appeals by citizens of Abkhazia and its official representatives about violations of basic rights, made both during the post‑war and blockade periods and today, still remain unheard by the international community.
An exception is the policy of the Russian Federation towards the Republic of Abkhazia, pursued since 2000. The possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship and Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia’s independence in 2008, as well as interstate treaties and agreements concluded afterwards, have contributed to the improvement of the humanitarian situation of our citizens. Such actions became the first step towards the de‑isolation of Abkhazia.
However, on the international stage, the citizens of Abkhazia are still deprived of the right to vote. The only platform where Abkhazia has the right to present its position is the format of the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus. Since October 2008, the Abkhaz side has been putting forward as its main demands the very ideas formulated in the civil initiative “Put an end to the isolation of Abkhazia”.
In 2022, we addressed the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Council in connection with the decision to refuse recognition as travel documents of international passports issued on the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia by the Embassy of the Russian Federation, which further increased the isolation of our citizens holding dual citizenship.
However, to this day, neither within the Geneva Discussions, nor within any other international platform or mechanism, has Abkhazia found due understanding on the issue of violations of the basic rights of its citizens and support in ensuring them in any form whatsoever. The legal personality of Abkhaz citizens, their civil, social, cultural, economic, and political rights and freedoms are simply denied.
In this connection, I hope that the campaign conducted in the Republic of Turkey to de‑isolate Abkhazia and restore the rights and freedoms of its citizens will unite people on the basis of commitment to high principles and human rights standards, regardless of their political views and the political conjuncture, and thereby allow the stated goals to be achieved.
I also wish to express my gratitude to the initiators of this public campaign, to everyone who takes part in it and supports it in any way, and to declare my solidarity with them in the matter of ending the humanitarian isolation and restoring the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Abkhazia.
Over the past few months, a public campaign “Put an end to the isolation of Abkhazia” has been conducted in the Republic of Turkey, initiated by representatives of the Abkhaz diaspora in connection with the ongoing international isolation of Abkhazia for 33 years and the resulting violations of the rights of its citizens to freedom of movement, medical care, education, and family unity.
The primary goal of the campaign is to achieve recognition of the Abkhaz passport as a document proving identity and granting the right to cross the Turkish border, as well as to open air and sea communication.
One of the main events within this public initiative was the joint statement by deputies of various political parties in support of it, made at a press conference in the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey.
This public campaign once again draws attention to the problem of the international isolation of the Republic of Abkhazia, which has continued since the Georgian–Abkhaz war of 1992–1993.
Unfortunately, numerous statements and appeals by citizens of Abkhazia and its official representatives about violations of basic rights, made both during the post‑war and blockade periods and today, still remain unheard by the international community.
An exception is the policy of the Russian Federation towards the Republic of Abkhazia, pursued since 2000. The possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship and Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia’s independence in 2008, as well as interstate treaties and agreements concluded afterwards, have contributed to the improvement of the humanitarian situation of our citizens. Such actions became the first step towards the de‑isolation of Abkhazia.
However, on the international stage, the citizens of Abkhazia are still deprived of the right to vote. The only platform where Abkhazia has the right to present its position is the format of the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus. Since October 2008, the Abkhaz side has been putting forward as its main demands the very ideas formulated in the civil initiative “Put an end to the isolation of Abkhazia”.
In 2022, we addressed the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Council in connection with the decision to refuse recognition as travel documents of international passports issued on the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia by the Embassy of the Russian Federation, which further increased the isolation of our citizens holding dual citizenship.
However, to this day, neither within the Geneva Discussions, nor within any other international platform or mechanism, has Abkhazia found due understanding on the issue of violations of the basic rights of its citizens and support in ensuring them in any form whatsoever. The legal personality of Abkhaz citizens, their civil, social, cultural, economic, and political rights and freedoms are simply denied.
In this connection, I hope that the campaign conducted in the Republic of Turkey to de‑isolate Abkhazia and restore the rights and freedoms of its citizens will unite people on the basis of commitment to high principles and human rights standards, regardless of their political views and the political conjuncture, and thereby allow the stated goals to be achieved.
I also wish to express my gratitude to the initiators of this public campaign, to everyone who takes part in it and supports it in any way, and to declare my solidarity with them in the matter of ending the humanitarian isolation and restoring the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Abkhazia.