Abkhazia's education ministry accuses political party of interfering in its work

Abkhazia‘s Education Ministry has criticised the pro-government United Abkhazia party for hosting a presentation of a new Abkhaz language textbook at its headquarters.

The new fourth-grade textbook is intended for schools where Abkhaz is not the language of instruction. According to its author, Ada Kvarchelia, it is effectively a guide to “learning the Abkhaz language together”.

Kvarchelia is a former deputy education minister. She is now deputy chair of the United Abkhazia party and a member of the Public Chamber.

“The main goal of this textbook is to help children see the Abkhaz language not as a school subject, but as a living means of communication. Its bilingual format makes it suitable for pupils in non-Abkhaz schools and helps children of different ethnic backgrounds learn the language,” she said.

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The proposal specifically concerns parliamentary candidates who are not ethnic Abkhaz.

The textbook presentation took place amid ongoing debate in Abkhazia over the state of the Abkhaz language and why it has failed to become the dominant language, as envisaged by the constitution, while Russian continues to prevail.

Experts have often cited the lack of modern teaching methods and up-to-date textbooks as one of the reasons. Against that backdrop, the presentation of the new textbook appeared to be a politically advantageous move. However, the Education Ministry criticised the initiative.

In particular, the ministry questioned the choice of venue, arguing that presentations of this kind should take place only in educational and academic institutions.

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The next parliamentary elections, scheduled for March 2027, will be held under the new rules, even though key aspects of how they will be implemented have yet to be defined.

The ministry also said that it alone has the authority to recommend teaching materials for use in Abkhaz schools.

It reminded the textbook’s authors and publishers that they must strictly follow the established procedures. Under the rules, textbooks must first undergo mandatory testing in pilot classes. Only after successful trials can the ministry’s board consider approving them for use in schools.

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‘Wrong’ Abkhaz language textbook