I want to reassure Abkhazians who were seriously agitated because of the Russian concept of restoring the property rights of citizens of Russia in Abkhazia. And the fact that Sukhumi is really concerned, and at the highest levels of local government, is demonstrated by a statement by Sergei Shamba that practically confirmed the assessment of the Club of Experts about the contract nature of all this noise. But do not worry, gentlemen. Return of Georgian refugees is not expected. It will not happen now and it will not be through Russia's efforts. But first things first.

Anxiety caused by the "concept of the Russian-Abkhazian joint commission on restitution of property rights of citizens of Russia in the Republic of Abkhazia" that was sent from Moscow was due to the fact that the document formally allows Georgian refugees who after the ethnic cleansing went to Russia and now have Russian citizenship to get back their abandoned property in Abkhazia. Concerns were voiced by some author who published an angry article-address in Sukhumi Nuzhnaya newspaper under the pseudonym Jij Sayer Gech. Trying to analyze implications of this concept for "independent Abkhazia ", he noted that the document "in all probability, was developed in the Russian Foreign Ministry" and saw the light "probably not without the participation and consent of Abkhazian representatives."

The author links the concept of restitution of property rights of citizens of Russia in signing of the agreement on non-use of force between Georgia and separatists in Abkhazia. Naturally, possibility of the return of property to Georgians and the signing of the document is part of the stick and carrot policy of Russia ... He even raises a question that maybe it were Georgians who thought of the document and he calls it "anti-Abkhazian" ... It is difficult to say why the Kremlin would promote "Georgian" document for all anti-Georgian that it does in recent years ... more so that the Georgian side is not going to sign any agreement with the Russian puppets in Sukhumi, only with Moscow itself and that has long been a consistent position of official Tbilisi.

A special concern of the author is that "... the first clause (of the concept) states:" Joint Russian-Abkhaz commission on restitution of property rights of Russian citizens in Abkhazia is created to coordinate restoration of property rights of those who left the Republic of Abkhazia in the period of ethnic conflict on its territory and who are citizens of Russia ". From this we see that all Georgians with Russian citizenship could easily restore their rights in Abkhazia. Hence the fears of those who misappropriated other's property and now live in "trophy" homes, or rent them to Russian tourists.

"Consider this. According to statistics, there are over 500 thousand Georgians in Russia, most of which are Georgian refugees who are holders of Russian citizenship. In your opinion will they take advantage of this situation? I think it is unlikely they will be wasting their time. Who benefits from this? "- Asks the author, and immediately draws the conclusion:" At a single glance at the draft document it is easy to understand that it is anti-state and anti-Abkhazian ".

We should agree with Mr. Gech with regards to this. The concept that caused so much stir indeed is anti-Abkhazian. Moreover, all the documents adopted by Russia concerning Abkhazia and those adopted by the puppet regime in Sukhumi after 1993 anti-Abkhazian. We are only surprised at short-sightedness of those who failed to notice all this until today.

Mr. Gech, is not your so-called "Constitution" anti-Abkhazian? Any document that restricts people's rights based on ethnicity is against people. But you have never stated that promotion of domination of Abkhazians in the occupied territory after the ethnic cleansing only leads to regress when Abkhazians feeling free and with impunity, are destroying Abkhazia while representatives of other ethnic groups actually have no rights and are easily discriminated on the part of the "titular nation". Is not it anti-Abkhazian document?

Is not the agreement with Russia that provides for deployment of several thousand armed to the teeth Russian occupants on the territory of Abkhazia an anti-Abkhazian document? Or are you still hoping that they will protect you, and not their selfish interests? Were not Abkhazians expelled from the Gali district to prevent them from getting under the feet of the Russian authorities? What else do you need to convince you of anti-Abkhazian essence of this document?

Do you think that documents of economic nature signed between Sukhumi and Moscow, will serve for benefit and prosperity of Abkhazians? But no, nothing of that sort... Scandalous example of Rosneft is before us. All of these documents only serve as economic foundation for further development of the occupied territory by Russian citizens. Not by you who has exchanged the idea of independence for Russian passports and Russian pensions, but by new "Russians" from remote parts of Russia who are devoid of unnecessary ambitions and claims. It is all well and good when Russia gives you money. It is a pleasant and familiar way of life. But as soon as you start to expand economy with the help of Russian specialists (because you never had and never will have your own ones) you'd immediately see how demographic balance that you are so concerned about will quickly change. And how long will you last as perennial directors? Do you think Russians will be as good-natured and patient, as Georgians used to be?

Now about this concept. The Club of Experts have repeatedly written that the main direction of Russian policy after the occupation of Abkhazia will be to create legislative basis for acquisition of property by Russian citizens in the occupied territory. Permission to purchase apartments in new buildings and restoration of property rights of people that you robbed - everything will do for this. And property right does not apply only to individuals. This principle can be applied to organizations of all kinds. And as with many institutions of Abkhazia during the Soviet times were directly subordinated the Moscow government bodies rights can be easily transferred back to them. For example, sanatoriums of Moscow Military District and Anti-missile Defence, etc ...

As to concerns that property could be returned to Georgians let's hope this will happen as this is our salvation. But certainly Moscow thought of nothing of this sort. It was not for creating conditions for return of Georgian population that Russia organized and promoted ethnic cleansing. The conclusion will result from analysis of these actions. Then the logic would lead us to the fact that Russia is simply afraid to write the word "Russian" in this concept as in this case everything will fall into place, and Russia will officially expose itself in xenophobia in the eyes of the world. And it is, of course, unnecessary. As with the existing wording this document may provide for restitution to all former residents of Abkhazia, but in reality it will act only for Russians. It is simple, when Sukhumi is forced to approve the concept - and it will happen sooner or later – an unofficial directive will be issued from above to cease treatment of Russians as Abkhazians are treating them now (they rob, intimidate, blackmail, ignore) while treatment of others will remain unchanged.

The call on all opposition spectrum of Abkhazia not to turn Abkhazians into minority was amusing. It was amusing since Abkhazians never managed to become the majority in Abkhazia. Even after killing and expulsion of their relatives and neighbours - Georgians in 1992-1993. Inflated during "census" figures in relation to Abkhazians help juggle the statistics, but they do not change reality. As it is well known that about half of Abkhazians left for Russia to earn money and they are in no hurry to return. Moreover, they are perfectly well settled in Russia, while the population of the occupied region is increasing at the expense of Armenians and Russians. Does this not bother you, Mr. Gech? And what is your concern? Is it nation-building or maintaining of demographic balance? Moreover, Abkhazians are not much, while others should be even less... Maybe it is worth thinking about preserving Abkhaz ethnic group, its traditions, culture and language? But then this question is not to Russia ...

Today a problem for Abkhazian society is not a pseudo-threat from Tbilisi, Washington, Brussels, etc. but that they do not know what they want. Abkhazians are fighting the windmills at a time when life around them is in full swing. Russia quite successfully uses the card of the occupied territory, sells and buys them, and at that Abkhazians simply do not exist for it.

"Almost all the best Abkhaz architectural monuments have ended up in the hands of Russian investors: the 19th-century palace of the Prince of Oldenburg; and Gagra’s oldest landmark, the ancient Persian Attaba Fortress - says Newsweek in an article entitled" The Republic of spies "- Luxurious real-estate developments like the Dolfin Hotel, have emerged along the seafront.. Rosneft begin a $32 million geological-research program offshore in the Black Sea... Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has lost no time grabbing a massive piece of land outside Gagra for a $70 million resort complex the locals call “Project Moscow”... Luzhkov is also constructing a gigantic office in Sukhumi to coordinate investments from Moscow. Russia’s Ministries of Defence, Agriculture, and the Interior have reclaimed state dachas in Sukhumi, Gagra, and Gudauta". The voice of Abkhazians, who do not like this turn of events, when Abkhazia actually becomes a colony of Russia, only occasionally breaks through the loud background of official propaganda. "We spilled blood for our freedom. The FSB border officers should remember that when they treat us as if we were their colony.” -says the commander of Abkhaz border troops, Col. Lavrik Mikvabia. Think about it, Mr. Gech. Would you like to live in a colony as a native waiter?