by Cemre Jade

Created on: July 22, 2008   Last Updated: April 17, 2012

There is always another side to every story. But to some stories, especially the hereby debated issues, usually have too many interested parties and as many sides to the story. In the case of Kosova, Abkhazia and South Osettia; US and Russia seem to be the main actors who have a word on the issue.
To understand the depths of the insiders perceptions a good analysis of the histories of these three cases is necessary. However, here, I will try to give an insider view from the Republic of Abkhazia.

In the case of Abkhazia, due to its geopolitical situation, there are too many interested parties that want a word, take active role and have great impact. US, being an ally of Georgia, have a lot to say about Abkhazia- based not on values of democracy and human rights as some would argue, but based on strategic, economic and political control of the Caucasus region.

Caucasus, with its natural resources and geopolitical position have been in the interest of states for centuries. There has been genocides and pressures, as result of invasions of the region at different instants of history. Abkhazia had a statehood since the 8th century and was an independent republic within the USSR till 1931.

Today, people would give you three important events about the history of Abkhazia. First, is the exile of Abkhaz people together with Adyghe and Ubykh from the Caucasus at the second half of the 19th century by the Tsarist Russia. Millions of people lost their lives in this forced migration and it may be called a genocide considering international standards.

Second, is the Stalin-Beria period, when the status of Abkhazia was decreased to an Autonomous Republic and Abkhaz political and intellectual elite were killed in a fortnight. At this period strict regulations against the use and teaching of Abkhaz language and culture were applied. For example, Abkhaz alphabet was replaced by the Georgian alphabet.

The third is the war of independence started with Georgian attacks and invasion and resulted in the unrecognition of Abkhazia's deserved independence and the economic and informational blocade. Although, Abkhaz had used their right for self-determination, have build democratic statehood in western standards, due to US and NATO policies in the region it is being forced into a closed life.

The only door open for people and information have been the Russian border for long and since the independence of Kosova this door only widened a little by the cancellation of Economic Barocade by

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