(see part I)

"Events that were taking place in western Caucasus and that were caused by rivalry between two empires – Russian and Ottoman Empires and that, first of all, was bloody and ruthless towards peoples living there. At that opinions of some radical national-patriots as that Russia was fighting against western Caucasian people is incorrect... Both Empires were faced with historical goals therefore confrontation between them for territorial supremacy was unavoidable. In addition, at that time peoples of western Caucasus were left without their real, common leader. There was a fierce rivalry among nobility ... They found themselves between a rock and a hard place that is between Russian interests on one hand and interests of the Ottomans on the other hand. So it can be said that uncoordinated actions and incorrectly chosen course were to blame for mass exodus of Abkhazian and Adyge ethnos from their native lands.... Western Caucasian people became hostage of the time and of big redistribution between the empires" – is said in the text published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia and we can consider this to be their official position.

Let's see what is accentuated there. We did not have national leader, we were fighting among ourselves, we had chosen a wrong foreign course and whatever happened to us is a fault of international politics and Russia was not much involved in our misfortunes!

Self-criticism and ability to understand one's own mistakes is very useful quality for every people and among others for Abkhazians as well. But when one intentionally forgets a main culprit in one's national tragedy and starts self-flagellation such actions only serve a purpose of justification of imperial, anti-Abkhazian politics if Russia.

Abkhazians – "guilty people"

During the first 100 years of this 200-year "friendship" due to rebellions and anti-Russian movements Abkhazians firmly secured a status of "guilty people" for themselves and it was especially prominent during the reign of Alexander III . Abkhazians were oppressed and they were denied development in practically every sphere – political, economical (business), education etc.

They also were prohibited to live in cities. Such restrictions had been present almost up till the beginning of the first Russian revolution. Governing elite of the Russian Empire never shied away from introduction of opportunistic decisions regarding inner territorial (administrative) borders which itself meant redistribution of historical Abkhazian lands. For example, in 1904 due to efforts of Prince Alexander Oldenburg who was close to the Romanov dynasty a territory from the River Psou till the River Bzip (modern Gagra district) was detached from Abkhazia (Sukhumi Okrug) and was incorporated into Sochi Okrug of the Black Sea province of Russia. Here we should also say that on December 7th 1917 having taken into account proposal of Georgian politicians Transcaucasian Commissariat overruled this unjust decision and returned these historical lands to Abkhazia.

In 1905-1907 when tsarist authorities of the Russian Empire came under threat Abkhazians started to show more or less loyal attitude towards strict policies of the government. Therefore Nicholas II "valued their services" and approved resolution of Chairman of the Council of Ministers Pyotr Stolypin on evenning of landowning rights of people of Sukhumi Okrug". The latter meant lifting of the status of "guilty people" off the Abkhazian people. There is no need for extensive explanations that that such "rehabilitation" looks extremely suspicious. Progressive society in the Tsarist Russia had been fighting for realization of democratic reforms and only managed to gain those after enormous efforts. While majority of Abkhazians with their lack of actions practically supported bloody repressions of the imperial government!

But more or less negative attitude of Russians towards Abkhazians still continued even after their above-mentioned doubtful "rehabilitation". Syndrome of distrust became especially obvious during the period of after the February Revolution in Russia when situation became grave in the Black Sea and Caucasus region due to the civil war.

White and red Russians against Abkhazians

As it is well-known Commander-in-chief of Armed Forces (army of volunteers) of so-called Southern Russia Lieutenant General Anton Denikin was a supporter of restoration of the Tsarist Russia and served an idea of "united, undivided Russia". Given that positions of both Communist-Bolsheviks and Social-Democrats or Mensheviks with regards to self-determination of nations that happened in the Caucasus in 1917-1919 were unacceptable for him.

Accordingly, and taking into account this view, Anton Denikin's negative attitude towards Soviet republic of Abkhazia declared by Communists in Sukhumi in April 1918, which was short-lived , by the way, is understandable. It is easy to imagine a difficult situation where Abkhazian nobility and powerful elite had found themselves during Bolshevik governance. We should not forget that local soviet authorities acted according to orders and directive of the centre in Russia. Given that we can say that Abkhazian national elite was unacceptable for Bolsheviks and it is obvious that they were trying with every possible method to restrain and "disarm" them.

It is interesting that today's separatist circles of Abkhazia are quite favourably remembering the Soviet period, especially the twenties of the XX century when Abkhazia had a so-called status of independent republic. We will not bore you with as to how absurd that is. We only say that the Soviet system is now considered as dictatorial and repressive, and undemocratic system and sympathies expressed by Abkhazians towards the period of the Communist government are obviously illogical and nonsensical.

Let's return to concrete facts of "friendly" Russian-Abkhazian relations and analyze some of them.

Territorial dispute between Russia and Abkhazia

An important place in the 200-year history of Russian-Abkhazian "friendship" is occupied by a territorial dispute that developed after Russian-Communist occupation of Abkhazia and establishment of the Soviet government there (1921). It concerns a problem that is less known to specialists and obviously for our readers as well. An issue of belonging of Pilenkovo (modern Gantiadi). That's why it would be interesting to discuss more intensely and find out what caused confrontation between Russian and Abkhazian Bolsheviks that resulted in discussions in the Kremlin.

So it's February – beginning of March 1921. The 9th Army of Russia crossed the river Psou and was fighting its way into deep of Georgia (Abkhazia). The Soviet authority was jus established in Sukhumi. Situation was unstable. That was used by Southeastern district Obkom of RSFSR and heads of city of Sochi and they decided to add villages of Pilenkovo district into Sochi Okrug. It was said and done. Local Georgian-Abkhazian administration was changed by Russian one. At first Sukhumi comrades did not pay much attention to that but when at the end of April 1922 Central Executive Committee of Abkhazia (CEC) asked Central Executive Committee of Russia this territory up to the River Psou to be returned to Abkhazia resolution of this issue was dragged on. Only in 1924, already Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union created a special commission which included interested parties – representatives of Abkhazia and RSFSR (we should explain here that in these years Sukhumi authorities were a bit distanced from Tbilisi authorities and certain issues were decided by Abkhazians directly with neighbouring Russia. We mean allegedly" independent' soviet socialist republic of Abkhazia being a part of the Soviet Union).

The commission, due to differences of opinions among members of the commission could not resolve this problem. Therefore to reach a final verdict this issue was introduced into the session of the Presidium of the USSR. On October 31st 1924 the Presidium approved belonging of Pilenkovo district to the Abkhazian Soviet Socialist Republic but...

Let's see a very interesting document that is dated by January 10th 1925 and register number of which is 80212 (here is shown in short):

Confidential

In Tbilisi
To Head of Council of People's Commissars Com. Kakhiani
Head of Transcaucasian Central Executive Committee Com. Tskhakaya
Head of Council of People's Commissars of Transcaucasia Com. Orakhelashvili

In Moscow
To Chairman of Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union Com. Kalinin
Chairman of Council of People's Commissars Com. Rykov
Secretary of Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union Com. Enukidze

Copies were sent to representatives of Transcaucasian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic Coms. Ter-gabrelian, Orjonikidze and Myasnikov.

The issue of adding of Pilenkovo district to Abkhazia passed all stages of discussion in interested central bodies and was decided positively under historical legislative act of the CEC of USSR of October 31st 1924.

During resolution of the issue of adding of Pilenkovo district to Abkhazia economical side, in other words, rational attitude in order to reach maximum economical wellbeing, as well as special climate and national and everyday characteristics and necessary political views (national factor) was also taken into account.

Despite the act of the CEC of the USSR on addition of the Pilenkovo district to Abkhazia as well as categorical directive of the CEC of November 25th 1924 on implementation of the above-mentioned act, certain representatives of Sochi and Black Sea Okrugs did not obey to the resolution and started to carry out irresponsible actions, unseen in the Soviet practice till then, regarding the issue. When the issue of Pilenkovo was still under discussion Comrades Kalinin, Rizhkov and Enukidze were in time informed about a fact that Sochi party officials that were, no doubt, acting according to their instructions of higher authorities of their Okrug and these officials decided to conduct a plebiscite in the population of the Pilenkovo district. They influenced part of the population with low consciousness, started to make evil insinuations, to implement use of force, arrests, discrediting of the Abkhazian Republic. They issued a falsified resolution on against incorporation of Pilenkovo into Abkhazia.

(...)

Abkhazian Council of People's Commissars did not hide their deep concern and with regards to this it stated:

(To be continued)