Oct 20, 1997

Resolution of the People's Assembly Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia


On condemnation of facts of high treason and collaboration with the occupational authorities during the Georgian-Abkhazian war of 1992-1993
The war imposed by the Georgian Government upon the sovereign state of Abkhazia came as a severe ordeal for the people of Abkhazia, especially for the Abkhazians, i.e. for those who bear historical responsibility for the fate of this country. In the face of the danger real patriots of Abkhazia stood next to the Abkhazians in defense of their Motherland. The war did not, and could not, bring the desired victory to Georgia, since it was the war aimed at annihilation of the century-old statehood of Abkhazia and of the nation whose name this ancient country bears.

In this unequal struggle the Abkhazians were supported by their kin people from the North Caucasus, the South of Russia, by representatives of many countries abroad, by the Abkhazian Diaspora from Turkey, Syria, Jordan and a number of West European countries and the United States.

Certain citizens of Abkhazia, however, failed to join their people at that crucial moment. These people proved to be indifferent to their nation's historical, spiritual and moral values and its political interests. At the time when the whole people of Abkhazia stood up in defense of their Motherland, some of those immoral people fled the Republic and took the position of outside observers. Some of those who by various reasons remained on the territory of Abkhazia occupied by the enemy, readily agreed to work in the occupational government's bodies, and a part of them, seeking closer collaboration and trying to win more confidence from the occupational regime, even voluntarily changed their nationality. L.M. Marshania was appointed the Vice-Premier of the puppet government, S.K. Ketsba became the Minister of Culture, A.Z. Kobakhia became the Minister of Forestry and R.R. Eshba became the Minister of Industry. Among the civilian population there were individuals who did not believe in the possibility of the Abkhazian victory over the enemy that had overwhelming preponderance, and who, together with the State Council's thugs, marauded and perpetrated crimes and atrocities against the civilians on the basis of their ethnicity.

The initiators, leaders and members of the so-called "Committee of the Salvation of Abkhazia" deserve special condemnation, as in the first days of the war they called the policy pursued by the legal leadership of Abkhazia adventurous. It is no secret that this notorious committee was not a neutral charitable organization, that it was set up at the initiative of Tbilisi. It was aimed at serving as an accomplice in ideological disarmament of the Abkhazian people, in neglecting their historical and ethnic identity. The participants and leaders of the Committee were L.M. Marshania, R.R. Eshba, A.M. Hashba, V.Z.Agrba, V.I.Akhuba, A.Z. Kobakhia, K.L.Anua, A.M. Kvitsinia, S.P. Ketsba, D.I. Mikeladze, V.I. Kodinets, S.A. Saakian, G.G.Gabunia, L.K. Sharangia, Sh.M. Misabishvili, and others. The Georgian faction of the then Supreme Council of the Republic of Abkhazia was one of the first to betray the interests of the Abkhazians and of the whole people of Abkhazia. Hoping to realize their chauvinistic intentions in regards to the Abkhazians and their historical Homeland, they, by their actions, provoked the war against Abkhazia. The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Abkhazia has instituted a number of criminal proceedings against those who, during the Georgian-Abkhazian war, actively collaborated with the occupational regime on the part of the territory of Abkhazia that was temporarily occupied by the Georgian invaders.

The civilian consciousness of the elected representatives of the people demands the condemnation of those who put their personal interests above the interests of their own people, who committed high treason and joined those who infringed on the rights and freedoms of the Abkhazians and of the whole people of Abkhazia.

Being aware of its responsibility for the fate of the people of Abkhazia and realizing its Constitutional responsibilities, the People's Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia resolves:

To note that during the war of 1992-1993 between Georgia and Abkhazia there took place facts of high treason and collaboration with the occupational regime.
To ask the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Abkhazia to accelerate the process of instituting criminal proceedings against those individuals who collaborated with the occupational authorities during the Georgian-Abkhazian war of 1992-1993.
To recommend to the President of the Republic of Abkhazia, the Cabinet of Ministers, Heads of administrations, Heads of Departments and State Institutions to take into account the present Resolution of the People's Assembly while considering the personnel issues.
To make the present Resolution public through mass media.

Sokrat DJINDJOLIA
Speaker of the People's Assembly
Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia
City of Sukhum
20 October 1997
No. 365-c-XIII