Tkuarchal bridge is falling down... falling down...

70 year old bridge, connecting the Tkuarchal city to the coal mines has fallen down due to a big amount of rain followed by a flood... The best thing about this scene is that the man driving the truck survived without a scratch.

From interesting

They have already rebuild it but i did not yet have a chance to visit.
However, i would like to take you for a walk in the outskirts of Tkuarchal to the place where you are surrounded by a variety of trees and flowers---a deep, infinite feeling of greenness. A greenness cut only by the blue-pink Hortensia flowers...

From Tkuarchal

Tkuarchal is the most beautiful city of Abkhazia- with its nature, and people's sincere fight for ecology of the city. It is the cleanest. And very interestingly, people like to grove flowers in their balconies in the middle of that nature. (Tkuarchal is the only Abkhazia city that does not border the Black Sea....)

A campaign to present children with books

A few months ago I took this picture on the main highway that connects Psou border to the rest of the country.

From interesting

It is a campaign to present children with books. You can either bring your own books and give it to the Gudauta Raion Administration or put money on bank accounts. I don't know the outcome of the project but put it on my list of things to find out...

It has been a long time since i wrote. I promised myself to not to give so much break any more. First of all I dont have the excuse for bad internet connection. Because we have the 3G technology in Abkhazia which brought fast internet connection for affordable (not cheap but just affordable) prices. So i can upload pictures in minutes, post a blog post in seconds. Write online (i used to write offline and than posted which was a lot of trouble for a blog, i mean the meaning of a blog is writing realtime isnt it?)
Anyway, 3G is not the only change in Abkhazia. To summarize the last year shortly, Abkhazia's recognition brought people happiness, wisdom, power to make a change in their own lives, infrastructure (progress not full infrastructure), peace, unity, comfort and so many other things. The change is faster and stronger, so are the challenges but people care to make things better which is good.
About my personal life, I got married, we are trying to build a house, started raising vegetables in our garden (which is a job i hate from heart), watched a lot of new serials (chuck, true blood, supernatural being my new favorites) and movies, bought a satellite tv which connects us to the world i have not missed to hear about (theft, murder, war, political fights, inequality, poverty, economic crisis are not things you would miss to hear about the world), traveled back and forth to istanbul, traveled to nalchik, printed 1000 questionnaires in the lowest quality office printer due to lack of resources, entered a job, quit a job, started my own research business, got new friends, got angry to friends, had fun with friends, missed old friends, wrote many proposals for phd, wrote many letters to many people, did not hear many responses, among the responses could not find anything to make me send any of my proposals, changed departments to apply, changed sub topics for my study, changed method of research, gave methods of social research trainings, made the first country wide scientific political participation survey with 1134 sample size, wrote a book for the training, wrote stories that i never finished, thought of poems that were never typed, wrote articles, got interviewed, made interviews, organized a photo exhibition, shot a short movie for 21 May- Remembrance Day of the Caucasian Exile, been to exhibitions, been to concerts, missed movies, missed concerts, missed teaching, missed writing, missed dreaming, missed writing on my blog....
So i hope to be more active in writing from now on...
I dont know where to start. I will find out. Soon!

Independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has been Recognized by Russia!

The beginning of August, was marked with sorrow and loss as well as fear of war spreading to a wider region; after the attack of Georgian forces to Republic of South Ossetia. Many people fled from their homes, were killed in an unexpected heavy night attack on the 7th-8th and the fightings continued a while. Later, the Abkhaz troops moved to re-obtain their land (Kodor) that was invaded by Georgian forces 2 years ago illegaly and against all pacts and agreements.
They managed to win this victory.
The second part of August has been marked with celebrations of victory and last monday the Russian Duma, tuesday (26.08.08) the Russian president Medvedev recognized the independent status of two Republics: South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Celebrations of first official recognition was like a 3 day festival in Abkhazia, with a lot ofAbkhaz flags, accompanied by South Ossetian, Adyghe, Russian and even Confederation (1921) and Chechen flags.
Abkhazian president and people repeat they do not think of joining to Russia and Russia did not give them their independence! Abkhazia has been independent for 15 years and this 30th of September, being the Victory Day (15th) will be a great day since the 15 years of economic blockade is over this year and that with the recognition starting with Russia, people will have more power to make their lives better and to live in a fully democratic, independent country. The recognition of Abkhazia, is also a power for the recognition of Abkhaz statehood, language, culture and life style around the world- which the Georgians had tried to wipe for long.
Apsny Forever!
For photos on celebrations:
http://picasaweb.google.com/abkhaziadiary/Celebrations
http://picasaweb.google.com/abkhaziadiary/CossackConcert

Diaspora Awake!

Caucasian Diaspora in Turkey actively showing reaction to lack of true information in the Turkish media and doing protests against the Georgian government!
What they have done:
*There are several press relases up to now by the federation, associations, foundations etc.

9th August 2008- The Associations in Istanbul came together to judge what is to be done. They decided to establish a Crisis Committee for South Ossetia. The aim founding this Committee is try to organize humanitarian help for Southern Ossetia, inform the press, organize protest etc..

9th August 2008- Protest Against Georgia (Taksim Square-Istanbul-Organized by Jineps (Cuacasian) Newspaper).

10th August- The Caucasus- Ossetian Solidary Committe Founded (It is composed of 7 members- the Chairman is Remzi Yildirim- Who is also an Ossetian in Istanbul).

10th August- The information and press groups of the Solidarity Commitee is founded. There are several miss information in Turkish press and TV. They are talking about those who died like they are Georgians but there is no information about more than 2000 Ossettians who are assassinated during the war, we preapared a document and sent to all newpapers to be used)

11th August- Petition for South Ossetia is opened

13th August 2008- Two Protests and press releases have taken placein front of Georgian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate in Istanbul (In London a group will also decided to the the same yesterday)..Istanbul protest is organized by The Caucasus- Ossetian Solidary Committe, supported by all other organizations (Like the Friends of Abkhazia, The Caucasus Foundation, Abkhaz Cultural Association, The Caucasus Forum, all other organizations in Istanbul and volunteers). Almost 250 people were there. The police did not let the groups to cross the street but the group walked with South Ossetian and Abkhazian flags and the press release is read (slogans like , Peace in The Cuacasus, Independent Abkhazia and Ossetia, we do not want war in our motherlands, Stop Genocid in South South Ossetia etc). .Link: (It is Turkish but you may see the pictures) http://www.ajanskafkas.com/haber,19896,cerkesler_gurcistani_protesto_etti.htm.

Ankara protest is organized by The Caucasus Federation and Ossetian Forum.

End of clashes in Kodor

News arrived this morning that Abkhaz flag flies over Kodor region invaded by Georgians in 2006!
The fighting and clashes have come to an end!
Peace in Abkhazia! Peace in the World!
Long live Independent Abkhazia!!!

Abhazya ve Güney Osetya'nın bağımsızlığı tanınmalıdır!

Abhazya ve Güney Osetya'nın bağımsızlığı tanınmalıdır!

Geçtiğimiz hafta yaşanan olaylar, modern teknolojinin bile önüne geçen politikalar olabileceğini ve teknolojinin kısa sürede binlerce insanın hayatını almak, koca bir şehri yok etmek ve suçu bir başkasına atmak için yönlendirebileceğini gösterdi.

Yaşadığımız günlerde Kafkasya'nın de fakto yani uygulamada bağımsız cumhuriyetlerinden Güney Osetya'da büyük bir katliam yaşandı. Peki bu olaylarda suçlu kim? Daha doğru söylemek gerekirse en suçlu kim?

Bu katliamı yapanlar mı? Yani, elindeki, bu kadar kısa sürede nasıl geliştiği apaçık belli olan silah teknolojisini bir halk üzerinde denemeye cesaret bulan Gürcü askeri birlikleri mi? Ya da bu askeri birliklere katliam emri veren Gürcistan hükümeti mi? Yoksa bu hükümetin askeri güç ve politikalarına destek veren dış güçler mi? Hepsi de bu katliamın bir parçası değiller mi sizce?

Osetya'da Gürcü güçlerinin açtığı ateş sivilleri vurdu, Tsinkal şehrini tamamiyle yerle bir etti. Bizce katliamın asıl nedeni, Gürcistan hükümetinin, aralıktaki NATO toplantısına sözde toprak bütünlüğünü oluşturmuş olarak katılmak istemesidir. Rusya müdahale etmeseydi bu acımasız katliamın Abhazya'da da devam edeceği apaçık ortadadır. Sovyetler Birliği'nin dağılmasının ardından Gürcistan'ın silahlandırılmasına destek olan devletlerin, bu ülkenin elde ettiği silah ve askeri gücü öncelikle Abhazya ve Güney Osetya karşısında kullanacağını biliyor olmaları gerekir. O zaman, Gürcistan Hükümeti'ni silahlandıran devletler de, Güney Osetya katliamında Gürcistan Hükümeti kadar suçludur.

Planlanmış olduğu asker yoğunluğu ve silah gücünden belli olan Güney Osetya'daki katliamın tam anlamıyla bir etnik temizlik haline gelmemesi ve Abhazya'da da benzer bir durum yaşanmaması için, Rusya'nın, işgalci Gürcü birliklerine müdahalesi bir gereklilikti. Amerika ve İngiltere, insan haklarından ve insanların canlarından daha çok Gürcistan'ın -aslında hiç de gerçekçi olmayan- toprak bütünlüğüne önem verdiklerini göstererek bu katliama seyirci kalmışlardır.

Basın ise gözlerini gerçeklere kapatıp, internet yoluyla Osetya'dan direkt olarak ulaşan ve Oset Halkının dramını yansıtan gerçek görüntüleri kullanmak yerine, Gürcistan'ın işgalini haklı göstermeye çalışan yanlı görüntüleri yayınlamakta ısrar etmektedir. Şimdi sormak lazım, dünya kamuoyunun Güney Osetya'da ve Abhazya'da yaşananlarla ilgili doğru bilgi kaynaklarına ulaşmasını engelleyen hangi yasaklar ya da politikalardır?

SSCB'nin dağılmasının ardından, Gürcistan'ın üç farklı devlet başkanıyla yaşadığı üç farklı savaş, onun, dağılma sırasındaki sınırlarıyla hiç bir zaman tanınamayacağının, bu sınırlarla varolamayacağının kanıtıdır. Gürcistan ve diğer dünya ülkeleri, Abhazya ve Güney Osetya'yı tanımak zorundadır. Çünkü, yaşadığımız yüzyılda bu halkların hatta Gürcistan'ın, özgür ve güven içinde yaşayabilmesinin tek yolu budur.