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The origin of the Abkhaz people. Abkhazians (apsua) - proud and beautiful The origin of the Abkhaz

Abkhazians represent the Abkhaz-Adyghe peoples and are the indigenous population of Abkhazia. This ethnic group lives in diasporas and is characterized by a number of features, which we will consider in our article.

Where do they live (territory)

Most Abkhazians live in the Republic of Abkhazia. Turkey is in second place in terms of numbers, followed by Russia. There are diasporas of Abkhazians in Syria, Georgia, Ukraine, the United States of America and other countries.

History

There are several versions that consider the origin of the people. One of them says that Abkhazians previously lived in North-East Africa, from there they have already begun resettlement towards the Caucasus. Another version claims the origin of the Abkhaz as a people of the North Caucasus, but it is refuted by many archaeologists who rely not only on excavations, but also on written sources. There is a third version, according to which the Abkhazians are immigrants from Asia Minor.
A mixed concept based on a number of archaeological finds should also be noted. Following it, the Abkhaz appeared as a result of the interaction of the inhabitants of the Caucasus and peoples who came from Asia Minor, and the very formation of the Abkhaz began in the 32nd century AD.
Historians believe that the peak of Abkhazia's prosperity came in the 8th century, when Leon II began to strengthen the position of his kingdom, using the temporary weakness of Byzantium. Abazia was subject to him, and he was going to take Colchis. This partly influenced the entry of the Abkhazian kingdom into the unified Georgian one. Over the course of time, Gruzinskoye falls apart, and Abkhazia regains its independence. With the onset of the 17th century, Turks come here, who occupy part of the territory. The Abkhazians were also affected by the Russian-Turkish and Caucasian wars. As a result of the latter, many were forced to leave their native lands and move to Turkey. The 1917 revolution made Abkhazia a subject of a mountain republic. The Soviet government made its subject out of Abkhazia by carrying out administrative reforms.

The culture

Music is an important cultural feature of the Abkhaz. She was always dedicated to hunting, the work of a farmer or a shepherd. At the wedding, ouredada is performed, under which it is customary for the bride to enter the groom's house. In the event of the death of the honorable person, awow was performed. Each of the singers in the choir sings in their own way.

Traditions


In the Abkhazian traditions, hospitality stands apart. Regardless of faith, everyone should receive a guest with cordiality. You cannot ask for money from a guest, but you need to receive it no worse than in a hotel. The guest is supposed to have a bed, food, care and refreshments. Sometimes Abkhazians are ready to lay a whole table if they consider their guest an honor. In the old days, whole houses were built for guests. Now guests are received in spacious rooms. The guest should sit first, then the head of the family and everyone else sit at the table.

Abkhazians adhere to the apsuara code. It was compiled many centuries ago, and now has not lost its significance. The main points of apsuara are alamys and auayura. It's about conscience and humanity. Abkhazians believe that if a person has forgotten about conscience, he died at the same moment. Apsuara encourages a person to be indulgent and noble, orders to get up whenever someone enters the room, which shows greeting and respect for the person entering.
Abkhazians respect shame as a feeling that helps them to control themselves. A person needs shame so that he does not violate accepted norms. Abkhazians are taught shame from childhood, focusing on life, not religion. The norms cover every aspect, from vocabulary to gestures.
There is also a rather curious paradox: modesty is valued in Abkhazia, but many residents love to boast. Modesty refers to the ability to turn a blind eye to imperfections, such as a poorly made chair or messy dishes in the house. It is tactless to indicate to the owners of the dwelling that they are doing something wrong. If a person boasts of wealth, he must certainly wish the same to everyone else. The manifestation of theatrical and excessive modesty, combined with apologies and indications of their own shortcomings, though very exaggerated, are perceived with respect.
By tradition, a guest who asks for a drink is given wine. Abkhazians believe that wine is the best drink. And the guest should be given the best. They can also give him something of the interior items, if he likes it. It is not customary to shake hands while greeting, although such a gesture is quite normal. Hospitality sometimes goes beyond the home. Even a foreigner, a casual passer-by can ask about the rest and what he liked.
The tradition of the feast occupies a special position. The very decoration of the kitchen looks quite rich, because it is customary for the Abkhaz to arrange celebrations and holidays in such a way as to create a vivid impression for all its participants. In the tradition of a feast, many points are taken into account: inviting guests, washing hands, exchanging gifts, accommodating guests, subjects of discussion, toasts. The celebration can be celebrated on a large scale, it is not surprising that the hospitable Abkhaz invite almost everyone to it.
The most difficult is the seating procedure. The age of the guest, his gender, to whom he is a relative, and much more are taken into account. All guests are sure to be introduced to each other.
Senior and honored guests sit at the head of the table. During the toast, the younger ones hold the glasses lower than the older ones. The first toast is usually a toast to the people, followed by a toast to the friendship of nations. Be sure to raise glasses to the hero of the occasion and to relatives.

Wedding


The Abkhaz wedding is known for being lush and spectacular. An engagement ring is not a required piece of jewelry for an exchange, like many other nations. Sometimes we exchanged the most common things. A girl could make a scarf or a towel for her groom as a gift, while a man gave a horn. This symbol meant the ability to hunt and get food.
At the wedding itself, the mother or father of the bride was not supposed to appear among the guests. At the celebration, guests from the bride's side are supposed to behave respectfully and even modestly. Now the number of guests is rarely large, and earlier it could exceed 200 people. In the tradition of a wedding, it was always necessary to yield to elders on stage or at the table. Young people practically did not drink alcohol, because being drunk at a wedding was considered shameful for them. The stage was not supposed to be empty, more and more people came out on it when the dancers began to get tired.

Life

Raising your voice is not recommended, it is considered impolite towards the interlocutor. Abkhazian customs prescribe not to make noise, therefore loud music is also perceived negatively. It is common to use “you”, while there are many additional respectful appeals, which are certainly taken into account by every inhabitant of Abkhazia. Appeals concern elders, women, other representatives of different groups.
Abkhazians treat children in a special way, trying to pamper them, but teach restraint.

Religion


In Abkhazia, Christianity was adopted in the 6th century. It had a Byzantine image. Islam gradually came here, although among many residents this religion is perceived as alien. Until now, representatives of paganism have survived - there are about a hundred of them.

Language

Abkhazians speak Abkhazian (refers to the Abkhaz-Abaza branch of the Abkhaz-Adyg group of languages) and Russian. Russian is widely spread in written and spoken form.

Appearance

clothing


The national dress of the Abkhaz has always been distinguished by an ornament. It was he who indicated the social status of the owner. Everyone tried to show their belonging to a particular genus by applying generic marks. The most expensive were the belt and fasteners, there were big differences between ordinary clothes and those of wealthy people. The clothes of the peasants were embroidered from linen and cotton, while the princes had velvet, lace and brocade. One of the most important attributes of the Abkhazian costume was the alabashya staff. It was made of strong wood, used as a support, especially the elders often used it. By sticking such a staff into the ground, a person signified that he was ready to speak an important speech.

Food


Abkhazian cuisine is extremely rich. It uses a variety of ingredients:

  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • different types of milk
  • cereals.

Of the cereals, corn and wheat are the most preferred; buffalo, cow and goat milk are dairy products. Instead of bread, they mainly used corn flour, from which they made hominy porridge. Nut butter, cheese or milk could be added to it. Tortillas, crispbreads and halva are made from corn flour. Corn itself is also consumed, usually boiled.
Wheat flour is used for making pies, dumplings and baklava. Meat is cooked with adjika, and chicken is served with peanut sauce. Lamb, goat meat with the addition of mint is considered a favorite delicacy.
Akud is prepared from vegetables, to which spices, beans, hominy are added. Sometimes a simple achapa is made, which includes fresh vegetables. In winter, achapa is salted.

Cheese can also be served in a special way: with mint, in the form of cottage cheese, in cream. Among the spices are common:

  1. Coriander
  2. Parsley
  3. Nettle
  4. Dill
  5. Purslane.

Adjika is always in the first place, which is considered spicy, although this directly depends on the amount of red pepper and spices. Adjika can be light or very scorching. It is adjika that is used to prepare a variety of sauces with berries and nuts.

Character

By their nature, Abkhazians are hospitable and friendly. Many remain conservative only in certain aspects. In general, the people are open to new knowledge. In families, patriarchy is supported, while the woman takes care of the children and the home. Hot blood for Abkhazians means the absence of guile and true sincerity in relations with friends and family. The Abkhaz themselves say that they are wise, cunning and always hospitable.

Dwelling

Apatskha is the traditional home of the Abkhaz. The type of this building is more than a thousand years old. The walls in apatskhe are wicker, they are made of hazel, azalea, and yew or oak is used for the base. In apatskhe, they usually receive guests, cook and eat. Animals were rarely kept in the house, especially livestock.
The dwelling provided for 2-3 rooms. In the largest room there was a hearth, near which the elders slept. It could also host guests. The younger ones were accommodated in smaller rooms. Keeping the fire on the hearth was important because it symbolized life.
Benches were placed next to the hearth, bunks with woolen blankets were fixed on the walls. Some Abkhazians still use the same utensils as their ancestors: chests, caskets, old boxes, which are covered with a blanket. Spices were stored on the shelves, and guns were hung on special hooks. Firewood for the hearth was kept at the head.

Video

The territory of modern Abkhazia was inhabited by humans in ancient times, as evidenced by the rich archaeological material. Already from ancient times, the ancient Greek, and after them the ancient Roman written sources report about the ancient Abkhaz tribes inhabiting Abkhazia - the Apsils, Abasgs, Sanigas, Misimians, etc., as well as about those territories in which they lived: Apsilia (in modern southern Abkhazia), Abasgia (central and northern Abkhazia), Sanigi (northwestern Abkhazia to Sochi), Misiminia (mountainous regions of northeastern Abkhazia). The name of the Apsila tribe has survived to this day in the self-name of the Abkhaz people - Apsua and in the Abkhaz name of their country - Apsny. The name Abasgi Leshli is the basis of the names "Abkhaz", "Abkhazia". However, this information is clearly not enough to talk about the origin of the ancient Abkhaz tribes. The answer to these questions can be given by studying the Abkhaz language. The Russian linguist Trubetskoy, who is supported by the majority of Soviet scientists, claims that today in the Western Caucasus there are 2 neighboring unrelated language families: 1) Kartvelian; 2) North Caucasian. The North Caucasian family of languages, along with Dagestan and Vainakh, includes the Abkhaz-Adyg group of languages.

Separation of the branches of the Abkhaz-Adyg language

Abaza Abkhazian Ubykh Adyghe Kabardian


abkhazian branch

Adyghe branch

There are a number of theories about the origin of the ancient Abkhaz tribes. The most interesting of them are:

1. North - according to which the ancestors of the Abkhaz tribes came from the territory of the North-West Caucasus.

2. South or Malaysian - the ancestors of the Abkhaz tribes came from the territory of Asia Minor.

3. Local theory - according to this theory, the formation of the ancient Abkhaz tribes took place without the intervention of external factors.

4. Ethiopian-Egyptian, according to which the ancestors of the Abkhazians come from African regions.

5. Local migration, according to which the origin of the ancestors of the ancient Abkhaz tribes is associated with the interaction of local and alien tribes.

The following factors prove the validity of this theory.

Scientists claim that at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. On the territory of Asia Minor, a powerful alliance of the Kashkas and Abeshla tribes was formed, which took part in the destruction of the Khat state. Apparently, these tribes became carriers of elements of the Khat culture, including the language. At the turn of the 2nd - 1st millennium, due to the overpopulation of the former habitats (Asia Minor), part of the Kashki and Abeshla tribes began to develop new territories, thus reaching not only the territory of modern Abkhazia, but also further to the North Caucasus (to the Settlement Area modern Adyghe and Kabardians). Apparently, the tribes of Kashkok and Abeshla were not only more numerous than the local tribes, but were at a higher stage of development. That is why the culture of the alien tribes won.

Abkhazians, apsua (self-name), people in Eurasia, in the Caucasus, the indigenous population of Abkhazia.

Population and languages

The number in the world is 185 thousand people. (at the beginning of the 21st century).

  • according to the 1989 census, the number of Abkhaz in Abkhazia was 93.3 thousand people (18% of the population of Abkhazia),
  • according to the 2003 census - 94.6 thousand people (44% of the population),
  • according to the 2010 census - 122.1 thousand people (about 51%).

An insignificant part lives in Turkey and Arab countries, where the Abkhaz settled in the 2nd half. 19th century Sub-ethnic groups are distinguished:

  • abzhuy,
  • Gudauta (Bzybskaya) and
  • samurzakan.

They belong to the Balkan-Caucasian race of the large Caucasian race. They speak the Abkhaz language of the Abkhaz-Adyg group of the North Caucasian family.

Dialects:

  • Abzhuy (underlies the literary language) and
  • bzybsky.

Russian and Georgian languages ​​are also widespread. Writing on the Russian graphic basis. Believers are Sunni Muslim and Orthodox.

History

The ancestors of the Abkhaz belonged to the aboriginal population of the Western Caucasus. It was already mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions under the name Abeshla, later in ancient sources that distinguished tribal associations of Abazgs in the north, Apsils in the south, etc. During the period of the Abkhazian kingdom (8-10 centuries), the unification of the ancient Abkhaz tribes into the Abkhaz nationality was completed. After the entry of Abkhazia into Russia (1810) in the middle. 19th century began to create writing on the Russian graphic basis. With the formation of the Abkhaz SSR (1921; since 1931 - the ASSR), the process of national consolidation among the Abkhaz accelerated and the process of state building began. After the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992-1994. in Abzazia, the process of state building continued at an accelerated pace.

Traditions

Traditional occupations are agriculture and pasture cattle breeding, auxiliary ones are beekeeping and hunting. They grow corn and other grains, tobacco, cotton, grapes, horticultural crops, cattle, and goats in the mountains. During the years of Soviet power, tea, citrus fruits, etc. were also cultivated in the agriculture of the Abkhaz, and a diversified industry was developing. The working class and the intelligentsia were formed.

Traditional crafts - the manufacture of agricultural implements, utensils, clothing, metal and horn products, embroidery, carpet weaving, inlay, wood carving. The traditional social organization is characterized by a large patriarchal family and patronymia, atalism, and other types of fictitious kinship. The system of kinship of the Arab type. From the middle of the 19th century. a small family and a neighboring community prevailed. Family exogamy and other elements of patriarchal-clan organization were preserved. Traditional settlements are scattered. Round or quadrangular wicker buildings with a thatched conical or gable roof as early as the 19th century. began to be replaced by plank houses with a raised floor on pillars; during the years of Soviet power, the construction of two-storey stone urban-type houses was widespread. Traditional men's clothing - woolen or cotton pants, shirt, beshmet, Circassian coat, typesetting belt and burka. Headdresses - mainly a felt hat or hood, shoes - chucks and leggings. Women's clothing - harem pants, dresses with a high collar, beshmet, shawls, chuvyaks or wooden shoes. The traditional costume is worn only by the older generation on holidays.

The food is dominated by hominy, sour milk, raw vegetables, boiled beef and fried chickens with spices (adjika, etc.). Folklore (Nart epic) is well developed.

Literature

  • Inal-ipa Sh.D., Abkhaz. 2nd ed., Sukhumi, 1965: his own, Traditions and modernity (based on the ethnography of the Abkhaz). Sukhumi, 1973;
  • Dzhanashia NS, Articles on the ethnography of Abkhazia, Sukhumi, 1960;
  • Anchabadze E.V., Essay on the ethnic history of the Abkhaz people. Sukhumi. 1976;
  • Argun Yu. G., Abkhaz ethnographic studies, Sukhumi, 1980;
  • The phenomenon of longevity. Anthropological aspect of the study. M., 1982;
  • Bibvava V.L., Modern rural family among the Abkhaz. TB. 1983.

In recent decades, Abkhazia has been away from the turbulent tourist routes. The reason for this was the events of the early 90s, when the fire of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflicts, which seemed to have been extinguished for a long time, flared up again. For many years this beautiful Caucasian country has not seen tourists. But time goes on, funnels from explosions and scars in the hearts of people have grown, resorts are being rebuilt, tourist services are developing. We again go to Gagra, to Sukhum, Pitsunda, to Lake Ritsa. And we are surprised at what we see - picturesque landscapes, ancient fortresses, beautiful botanical gardens, monasteries and temples, caves. We are surprised and understand that we do not know anything about this small country, which was recognized as a country by only a few states in the world. Let's fill this knowledge gap together and take a short excursion to history of Abkhazia.

Ancient Abkhazia

Start history of Abkhazia hidden behind the mist of millennia. The first people appeared on its fertile lands 35 thousand years ago, in the late Paleolithic era. The sites of the Mesolithic times, which arose in the 12–7th millennium BC, are well studied. People settled in caves near rivers, engaged in fishing and gathering. This is evidenced by fish bones and bone harpoons found in large numbers around their dwellings.

In the VI-IV millennia BC, in the Neolithic period, clay dishes appear. At the same time, a person leaves the caves and begins to build dwellings on their own. The development of agriculture begins: the cultivation of land and the domestication of wild animals. On the border of the IV-III centuries BC, residents Abkhazia learned to melt metal - copper and bronze. A millennium later, the dolmen culture appeared. Her footprints - dolmens(stone tombs) - are found everywhere in the territory of modern Abkhazia. Their greatest concentration is observed in Gudauta region, in the vicinity of the village of Otkhara (15 dolmens weighing from 60 to 110 tons were recorded here). In dolmens of the Late Bronze Age, researchers find spearheads, bronze axes, ceramics and all kinds of jewelry.

The first cities

The first large settlement-cities appeared in history of Abkhazia in the VIII century BC, when Greek colonist sailors began to explore its Black Sea coast. In the VI-I centuries BC, they founded the cities of Pitiunt (now Pitsunda), Guenos (Ochamchira), Triglit (Gagra), Dioskuria (Sukhum) and others in quiet and convenient bays for navigation. These cities of the colony grew rapidly, turning into cultural and historical centers of the Black Sea coast. Trade flourished in them, commodity exchange was carried out, crafts developed.

Dioscuriada

The territory where the Greeks founded Dioscuriadou, in Abkhaz it was called Akua. The antiquity of the name is indicated by the inscriptions "Akoy" (Akua) on gold stater coins minted in the 1st century BC. In addition, a castle located not far from modern Sukhum, named by researchers at the beginning of the last century Bagrat castle, previously called castle Agua(Akua). In the 5th-4th centuries BC, the local and Greek settlements on this territory were connected only by economic interests. A century later, in the Hellenistic era, their inhabitants mutually integrated, and the composition of the Dioscuriada's population became mixed, Greco-Abkhazian.

In the 1st century AD, the Romans appeared and began to dominate on the shores of the Black Sea. This was the era of Emperor Octavian Augustus. It marked the beginning of a new, Roman-Byzantine period. history of Abkhazia, which lasted until the 7th century. In the 1st century, the Diascuriade received a new, Roman name - Sebastopolis.

Early Christianity in the history of Abkhazia

According to church legends, in 55 AD, the Apostles Andrew the First-Called and Simon the Canaanite, the biblical disciples of Christ, came to preach their faith on the Abkhaz land. For Simon Kananit, Abkhazia became the last place of residence - here he died in the vicinity of the Psyrtskha River. Later, on the site of his grave, a temple was erected in his name, and the grotto, in which the Saint spent his last days, became one of the most revered religious shrines in Abkhazia.

Abkhazia and the Russian Empire

In the 19th century, Turkey and Russia fought, trying to wrest territories along the Black Sea from each other. In the middle of the summer of 1810, a Russian squadron captured the Sukhum-kale fortress. Abkhazia was annexed to the Russian Empire (with the exception of a few free settlements in the mountains). 1810 is considered the year of the beginning of Russia's patronage over Abkhazia. In the same year, about 5 thousand Abkhazians moved to Turkey - this was the first wave of settlements in the 19th century.

Distinctive feature Abkhazian principality it became that it, unlike neighboring Georgia, did not lose its independence as a result of joining Russia. From 1810 to 1864, the principality had an autonomous government within the Russian Empire and existed in the Caucasus longer than others.

Since June 1864, the abolished Abkhazian principality was renamed into the Sukhum military department of the Russian Empire. On the eve of the liquidation of the principality, Prince Mikhail Romanov, who was the governor in the Caucasus, presented to the emperor a plan for the colonization of the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea. Alexander II approved this plan (it was proposed to settle the territory from Ingur to the mouth of the Kuban with Cossack villages). At this time, 45 thousand Ubykhs and 20 thousand Sadzes, who moved to Turkey, left Abkhazia.

Revolt and Mahajirism

In 1866, an uprising broke out in Abkhazia, a wave of which swept from the village of Lykhny to Sukhum. The reason for the indignation was the preparation for the Russian authorities to carry out the peasant reform. The officials overlooked the fact that, unlike Georgia, there were no serf relations in Abkhazia. After the suppression of the uprising in Abkhazia, repressions began, the unconditional disarmament of the people took place (even the daggers were taken away). The participants in the uprising were exiled to the Far North and Siberia. In the summer of 1867, another 20 thousand Abkhazians became mahajirs - immigrants to Turkey.

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, the Abkhaz sided with the Turks. At the end of the war, this led to massive political repression. The Abkhaz were found "guilty" by the population, and they were sent to hard labor or to exile in remote Russian provinces. In 1877, mahajirism reached its peak - about 50 thousand more Abkhazians left the country. Its townships were practically deserted. In order to somehow solve the problem, Abkhazia began to be populated by other peoples, primarily Georgians (Mingrelians), as well as Greeks, Russians, Armenians, Estonians, Bulgarians, and Germans. By the end of the 19th century, Abkhazians accounted for only 55% of the total population of the country.

In the second half of the century before last, Abkhazia was located between the democratic communities of the free mountaineers of the Caucasus and the Georgian feudal system. However, a spiritual connection with the Circassian-Ubykh community was clearly visible in its social structure.

When the Russian Empire collapsed, Abkhazia ended up in the Union of the United Caucasus Mountaineers and in the South-Eastern Union. In November 1917, a congress of the Abkhaz people was held, at which the first parliament, the People's Council of Abkhazia, was elected, which adopted the Declaration and the Constitution of the Abkhaz people. In March 1921, the Bolsheviks declared Abkhazia a Soviet Socialist Republic and established Soviet power in it. In February 1931, the VI All-Georgian Congress was held in Tbilisi, which made a decision to transform the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia into an autonomous republic, which is part of the Georgian SSR.

National liberation movement

Just before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the national liberation movement began to activate in many union republics. Abkhazia also began a struggle to raise its own administrative status. The Georgian parliament, in principle, began to make decisions and resolutions unilaterally (1989 - 1990), ignoring the interstate nature of relations between Georgia and Abkhazia, clearly supporting the course of abolishing the Abkhaz statehood. To overcome the legal unsettledness between the countries, in July 1992, the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, by its decision, restored the Constitution of 1925 on the territory of the republic and adopted a new Flag and Coat of Arms of the Republic of Abkhazia.

Georgian-Abkhaz war 1992-1993

The trouble happened on August 14, 1992. Georgia, which has just joined the UN, has begun war against Abkhazia... Her troops supported armored vehicles, aviation and artillery invaded the territory of Abkhazia and occupied it.

The extermination of local residents and cultural genocide began: monuments of culture and history, valuable documents, rare manuscripts and books were destroyed ... On September 30, 1993, Abkhazia was liberated. About 3 thousand people gave their lives for the freedom and independence of the country.

Abkhazia today

In November 1994, a new Constitution of the country was adopted by the parliament of Abkhazia. The first president was elected - V.G. Ardzinba. From that time to autumn 1999, Abkhazia was in an informational, economic and political blockade.

Nevertheless, she found the means and strength to overcome the difficulties of the post-war period, the revival of culture, science, economics, education and the resort sector. In October 1999, at a national referendum, the Abkhaz voted for the independence of the country, securing this in an appropriate state act. In 2008, the independence of Abkhazia was recognized by Russia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, in 2009 - by Nauru, in 2011 - by Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

This is how she is history of Abkhazia: ancient, proud and sad. With all my heart I want to believe that the people of this small mountainous country, which is again at the stage of formation, will find real freedom, recognition and a calm life. Traveling around Abkhazia, you constantly meet hospitable and cheerful people, beautiful places and buildings that perished during the "last" war. And it is glad to see that every year there are fewer such buildings, "witnesses of the 90s": new roofs appear over them, new windows appear in the window openings, and in these windows a peaceful light is lit in the evenings. And then you understand: the history of Abkhazia continues!