The Head of the Republic of Adygea, Murat Kumpilov, hosted a delegation from Abkhazia and Karachay-Cherkessia. The meeting was initiated by Musa Ekzekov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the World Abaza Congress (WAC) and President of the ‘Alashara’ organisation.

The delegation included Temur Rekvava, head of the Sukhum office of WAC, department heads Izolda Khagba and Dmitry Zhiba, ‘Alashara’ leader Murat Gedugov, and Head of Culture Natella Dzhemakulova.

Speaking about the meeting, Temur Rekvava noted: "On behalf of WAC Chairman Musa Ekzekov, we held discussions with the Head of the Republic of Adygea in a friendly atmosphere. We aimed to comprehensively present the Congress's work and key achievements. We hope this meeting will soon yield concrete results and are grateful for the warm reception."

Representatives of WAC and ‘Alashara’ outlined their core activities, presented current projects, and shared future plans. The meeting also marked a reciprocal visit, following last year’s delegation from Adygea to Karachay-Cherkessia.

Murat Gedugov highlighted the discussions’ productivity, stating: "We have already identified key areas for collaboration and explored future joint projects."

Murat Kumpilov acknowledged the significance of WAC and ‘Alashara’s work and expressed his interest in continued cooperation. Special attention was given to language preservation and educational initiatives, particularly those led by the 'Tembot Kerashev Adyghe Republican Institute for Humanitarian Research'. Kumpilov emphasised that the experience of WAC and ‘Alashara’ is of particular value to educators and linguists.

On International Circassian Language Day, over 200 people joined the annual 'Adyghe (Circassian) Dictation' at Adyghe State University, promoting and preserving the Adyghe language since 2019. https://abkhazworld.com/aw/caucasus/3006-over-200-participants-join-adyghe-dictation-event-in-adygea

One of the most tragic events of the Patriotic [Georgian-Abkhazian] War of the Abkhazian people in 1992-1993 was the March Offensive.

On March 15, 1993, during a counterattack, Abkhazian fighters crossed the Gumista River and seized strategically important heights near Sukhum, marking the beginning of the operation to liberate Sukhum.

However, like the offensive on January 5, 1993, this offensive did not progress beyond this initial stage. After bloody battles, the Abkhazian units were forced to retreat to their original positions.

In the battles for Sukhum in March 1993, more than 200 fighters of the Abkhazian army were killed, and over 20 went missing.

Those who died after crossing the Gumista River were buried in a mass grave alongside others who perished in the battle, near the Republican Hospital.

After the end of the war in November 1993, it became possible to re-bury those who were initially considered missing. The relatives identified the deceased soldiers by their clothing and personal belongings, although some remained unidentified.

See: https://abkhazworld.com/aw/conflict/2230-visiting-hell-how-relatives-identified-the-dead-in-the-march-offensive

The Lykhny Appeal of 1989: A Defining Moment in Abkhazia’s Struggle for Freedom
https://abkhazworld.substack.com/p/the-lykhny-appeal-of-1989-a-defining

🟥 Buried alive: What Happened in the Village of Ered, South Ossetia on 18 March 1991

On March 18, 1991, Georgian militants stopped a truck carrying 25 Ossetian civilians near the village of Yered in the Tskhinval region of South Ossetia. After being beaten and abused, the women and children were released, but the fate of 12 men remained unknown for over two years. It was later discovered that they had been tortured and buried alive.

https://abkhazworld.com/aw/conflict/2236-what-happened-in-the-village-of-yered-south-ossetia-18-march

The Russian Ministry of Justice has added two Abkhaz journalists to its updated register of foreign agents. Nizfa Arshba, editor of the Abkhaz news agency Aiashara, and Izida Chania, founder of Nuzhnaya Gazeta, were included in the list published on 21 March 2025. https://abkhazworld.com/aw/current-affairs/3007-abkhaz-journalists-branded-as-foreign-agents-by-russia

🎥 Zamana Talks is a video series highlighting Abkhaz professionals who have excelled in their respective fields, sharing insights, life lessons, and practical advice.

The latest guest is Dzhem Marshan, principal shareholder of Singapore-based Crossinvest Asia, a leading firm in wealth management and private equity. He brings extensive leadership experience from investment banking roles at Credit Suisse, Barclays, DBS Bank, and EFG Bank. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziW4p8dIyTc

Russia has designated two more Abkhaz journalists as foreign agents, sparking criticism. The Union of Journalists of Abkhazia urges legal action, calling it a fight for press freedom. https://abkhazworld.com/aw/current-affairs/3008-union-of-journalists-of-abkhazia-responds-to-russia-s-foreign-agent-designation

Arda Inal-ipa: "It will take generations to wash away this stain"

"Following the announcement by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation declaring well-known Abkhaz journalists Inal Khashig, Izida Chania, and Nizfa Arshba as “foreign agents,” many of our citizens were left confused, troubled, and disheartened. When the expected denials failed to appear, a wave of disappointment and depression swept over them. Friends called one another, wrote on social media, and asked, how is this possible? And more importantly, why?

Many did not see this decision as merely an act of repression against a few inconvenient journalists, but rather as an attack on Abkhazia’s active civil society, a punishment for the independence and responsibility it had demonstrated in recent months.

I would like to appeal to our dear fellow citizens: do not lose heart! We still have much work to do to build our beloved Abkhazia! Misunderstandings and delusions will undoubtedly pass, and disinformation and slander will surely be exposed.
All these lists of the “unreliable” and “foreign agents,” secretly compiled by the trembling, unclean hands of a few unfortunate compatriots, will eventually become worthless scraps of paper. Perhaps one day, historians will publish them in archival volumes about these difficult times we are living through, not anonymously, but with the names of the cowardly authors of these denunciations. It is only their children and grandchildren one must pity, for it will take several generations to wash away this stain."

Arda Inal-ipa
Director at the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes in Sukhum.

Civil society organisations across Abkhazia have united in demanding the resignation of Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba, citing concerns over his handling of recent sanctions imposed by Russian authorities against Abkhaz citizens.

https://abkhazworld.com/aw/current-affairs/3009-abkhazian-civil-society-calls-for-foreign-minister-s-resignation

Said Gezerdaa explores the 'foreign agent' designation of Abkhazian journalists, exposing political repression, election rigging, and the erosion of press freedom and sovereignty.

https://abkhazworld.com/aw/analysis/3010-targeted-repression-the-foreign-agent-designation-of-abkhazian-journalists

Moscow’s Long-Term Policy Risks Alienating Abkhazia’s Core Identity, by Tengiz Dzhopua

In the long run, Moscow is turning the very centres of Abkhaz self-awareness against itself.

Some politicians in Moscow fail to understand that by labelling those who uphold the national-patriotic agenda of the Abkhaz people as enemies, they are alienating the most active and driven segment of Abkhaz society. In reality, these individuals are the essence of the Abkhaz nation. Many others lack any ideological foundation, instead being guided solely by personal interests or the pursuit of privileges and trust. As a result, they are either passively indifferent to everything and everyone or cautiously active, only for as long as nothing threatens their personal, self-serving existence.

In the short term, this policy may seem beneficial, particularly if great effort is made to keep the unprincipled in power. However, in the long run, Moscow is turning the very centres of Abkhaz self-awareness against itself. If this continues, it will eventually push the entire Abkhaz nation away. The degree of fragmentation within Abkhaz society is significantly lower than in most other nations; strong familial ties persist, and even the discontent of a single individual can resonate widely. This happens regardless of personal political preferences, as the community remains closely interconnected.

It is likely that those shaping this policy are being advised by so-called "Abkhazians" who either possess a degraded Abkhaz mentality or deliberately manipulate the internal Abkhaz political climate for their own petty interests. But at this stage, the motives behind it are irrelevant. What matters is the result: a crack in relations has already formed, and it is widening. Trust has undoubtedly been replaced by caution and feigned sincerity, spreading from the highest levels of power downward, reaching those who never possessed trust to begin with.

This is not yet a wave of anti-Russian sentiment, but it is the unmistakable premonition of its rapid approach. And that is the most tragic, and most dangerous, consequence of such a policy.

Tengiz Dzhopua

The Russo-Caucasian War, officially ended on 21 May 1864, marking 161 years since this significant event. Throughout the 19th century, the War significantly altered the geopolitical landscape of the region. The war between the Russian Empire and the native peoples of the Caucasus led to significant population displacements, including those of the Abkhazians.

Originally published by ApsnyPress, this in-depth interview with President of the Republic of Abkhazia, Badra Gunba, explores the country’s most pressing political, economic, and social issues. https://abkhazworld.com/aw/interview/3012-interview-with-president-badra-gunba