Sukhumi

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The high-rise under construction on Kogonia Street. Photo: OC Media

Abkhazia

Activists rally against ‘monster’ building on Sukhumi seafront

by OC Media

•5 min read

The construction of a multi-storey building in a historic quarter of Abkhazia’s capital has prompted pushback from activists and architects. They claim it breaches building regulations, and poses a threat to the city’s form and function. Sukhumi’s (Sukhum’s) Kogonia street is a broad and busy street in the city centre, a stone’s throw from the city’s historic waterfront. Since mid-2022, it has also played host to the construction of a block of flats that has attracted significant negative

Protesters outside an abandoned high-rise building in Sukhumi's New District on 20 January. Photo: OC Media

Abkhazia

Abandoned high-rises and housing assistance in Abkhazia

by OC Media

•6 min read

In Abkhazia, vulnerable people who don’t own housing can find themselves neglected by the government, and consigned to poor living conditions. But some families, supported by the opposition, are determined to change that. Last week, protesters frustrated with cycles of rental and poverty in Sukhumi (Sukhum) took matters into their own hands, demanding financial support from the government, and calling for an abandoned building to be repurposed as housing for those in need. The approximatel

Abkhazia

Is Abkhazia’s car insurance mandate driving tourists away?

by OC Media

•4 min read

As of May, all tourists driving into Abkhazia were expected to insure their cars. While this might save the government some headaches, some residents fear it could scare tourists away. Alias Abukhba, a resident of Sukhumi, had toiled and saved for two years before being able to afford the car of his dreams, an Audi A6 — which was unfortunately totalled by an intoxicated driver only three days after he bought it. ‘It was the son of an official’, recalled Abukhba. ‘To get money [in compensatio

Abkhazia

Equal and more equal: Abkhazia’s passport policy

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•6 min read

As the issuance of new passports continues in Abkhazia, many non–ethnic Abkhaz — ethnic Armenians, Russians, Georgians, and others — fear the reason behind the new regulations is to deprive them of citizenship. Ruslan Yaylyan, an ethnic Armenian from Abkhazia’s capital of Sukhum, told OC Media that when he applied for a new passport last year it was his second time applying for an Abkhazian passport and he did not expect any problems. However, ten days after submitting the required docum

Abkhazia

Removal of Abkhazian memorial in Scotland sparks controversy

by OC Media

•3 min read

A memorial to victims of the Georgia–Abkhazia war in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock has been removed at the request of Georgian authorities. Abkhazian leaders have expressed outrage at the removal. Dismantling the memorial The memorial, with the inscription ‘in memory of those from our twin town of Sukhumi who died in the Abkhazian/Georgian conflict 1992–1993’, also bore an Abkhazian flag. Kilmarnock is twined with Sukhumi (Sukhum). Tamar Beruchashvili, Georgian Ambassador to the Unit

Abkhazia

Voice from Abkhazia | ‘The war robbed me of everything’

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•6 min read

Stella Adleyba, 26, OC Media’s correspondent in Abkhazia. ‘When the war in Abkhazia began, I was only a year old. My Dad went to the front in the first days of the war, so we were left alone: my mother, my brother, and me. Of course, I don’t remember what happened in those days, but all of my life I have listened to the stories of my mother and brother about what we went through back then.’ [Read in Georgian — სტატია ქართულ ენაზე] ‘Two months after the outbreak of the war, on 22 Oct

Abkhazia

Voice from Georgia | ‘I am not angry at Abkhaz people’

by Dato Parulava

•4 min read

Khatia Kardava, 28, IDP Women Association — Consent ‘I was three years old when the war began. I hardly remember anything, but I don’t really like when people ask me about it, because it’s painful. As time passes the memories become blurry — I don’t really know what are actual memories and what are expressions from photos and videos.’ [Read in Georgian — სტატია ქართულ ენაზე] ‘I was living in Sukhumi with my mum and dad. I don’t discuss the war with mother. When I visit my grandmother