Foreign Minister of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba
Photo: Dmitry Kostyukov
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Abkhazia Sends Georgia a Bill for the War
Sergey Shamba, foreign minister of Abkhazia announced in an interview with Georgian media yesterday that the breakaway republic would seek damages of $11.5 billion for the war with Georgia between August 1992 and September 1993 and the Georgian blockade of the region. Dozens of villages were burned, much of the Abkhazian capital of Sukhumi was destroyed and tens of thousands of lives were lost on both sides. In addition, the tourist industry suffered and much investment was lost after the CIS imposed an embargo on the area at Georgia's behest.
Abkhazia has raised the question of compensation before, but this is the first time it has named an amount and tied the settlement of the conflict and return of Georgian refugees to the issue.
Chairman of the Georgian parliament committee on international affairs Konstantin Gabashvili told Kommersant that “It would be funny if it weren't so outrageous. We should pay them? And whom? The ones who expelled 350,000 people from Abkhazia and took their property? And who are now selling that property in violation of all laws and ethical norms?”
Leader of the We Ourselves organization of Georgian refugees from Abkhazia Paata Davitaiya commented that “They know very well in Sukhumi that they won't receive compensation. They are looking for a political argument for the refugees not to return.” Georgia has recently begun objecting to the sale of the property of Georgian refugees.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 12, 2007
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