Friday 29th of March 2024, 01:11 CET
Abkhaz refugees protest Russian involvement
January 16, 2003
Associated Press

Posted by HW on March 29, 2024

Protest at Russian embassy
More than 200 refugees from the separatist republic of Abkhazia held a protest at the Russian Embassy Thursday, complaining about the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia and about Russia's moves to issue passports to people still living in the republic.

Peacekeepers
Abkhazia, a lush Black Sea province in Georgia's northwest, won de facto independence in 1993 after driving out Georgian government forces in two years of fighting. Separatists have refused to bow to Georgia's control and U.N.-sponsored peace talks have stalled.

Russian peacekeepers have patrolled the dividing line between separatist and Georgian-controlled territory since 1994 under the auspices of the Commonwealth of Independent States, an alliance of former Soviet republics.

Part of Russia
"In reality, Abkhazia has become part of Russia," said one protester, Zurab Chagunava. "Russia has double standards. They support the Abkhazia separatists, but are carrying out a war in Chechnya" against separatists.
 
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