Returning Abkhaz citizenship to ethnic Georgians: integration or a security threat?

Abkhazia‘s parliament is set to consider restoring Abkhaz nationality status to residents of the Gali district. The opposition is firmly against the move, arguing that it would pose a threat to national security.

Abkhaz passports may be returned to ethnic Georgians with Georgian citizenship

Ethnic Georgians may receive Abkhaz citizenship, several well-known Abkhaz politicians have said. However, former President Khadjimba is categorically against this initiative

The parliamentary committee on state and legal policy has approved amendments to the law on civil status acts that would extend the right to restore Abkhaz nationality status and surnames to foreign nationals permanently residing in Abkhazia who are ethnic Abkhazians, as well as “direct descendants of people who lost their Abkhaz nationality as a result of anti-Abkhaz national policies pursued in the 19th and 20th centuries.”

Behind this lengthy wording lies one specific group: ethnic Georgians living in Abkhazia’s Gali district. In 2011, the overwhelming majority of them – around 30,000 people – were stripped of their Abkhaz citizenship on the grounds that they also held Georgian citizenship.

In place of Abkhaz passports, they were issued permanent residence permits allowing them to live indefinitely in the breakaway republic.

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Calls to allow residents of the Gali district to regain Abkhaz citizenship have periodically resurfaced in debates over the full integration of the area’s population.

One proposal has been to allow them to change their recorded ethnicity in official documents from Georgian to Abkhaz. Supporters argue there is a historical basis for this, as some Gali residents have surnames of Abkhaz origin, and their ancestors are believed to have been assimilated into the Georgian population at the turn of the 20th century.

Under Abkhazia’s current citizenship law, such a change in official records would automatically entitle Gali residents to regain Abkhaz citizenship, even if they also hold Georgian citizenship.

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The proposed amendments to the law on civil status acts are due to be debated at the next parliamentary session, and judging by the opposition’s reaction, the discussion is likely to be heated.

“Pushing this bill through under the current foreign policy circumstances creates additional and extremely dangerous risks that could be exploited by external forces to undermine stability and national security,” five opposition groups said in a joint statement.

They argue that if Gali residents regain Abkhaz passports while retaining Georgian citizenship, they could play a much greater role in the republic’s political life by running for parliament or the presidency, initiating referendums and influencing key political decisions.

According to the opposition, “such a prospect poses a direct threat to the national interests and fundamental rights of the Abkhaz people, secured at the cost of enormous sacrifice.”

The terminology, place names and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this website.

Abkhaz citizenship for ethnic Georgians