Spartak Zhidkov, Abkhazia. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The current resort season in Abkhazia has begun very early this year. One could see Russian tourists who crossed the border from Abkhazia to Russia even a month ago. 120,000 people crossed the Russian-Abkhazian border from the 1st to the 6th of May (the equivalant to half of Abkhazia’s population). Providing the resort season is the main concern of the government in 2013. The State Committee on Resorts and Tourism predicts a growth of the tourist inflow by 25%; even though Abkhazian hotels are not being constructed in such a pace, but reserves of private housing are huge. There are more and more options to spend good time in the republic.
Tourists still see Abkhazia as a strange phenomenon: remains of houses and big buildings are everywhere, they neighbor huge construction sites; damaged roads intersperse with new excellent highways… However, this picture perfectly demonstrates the evolution in Abkhazia: from the postwar breakdown to economic independence and civilized life.
During many postwar years the republic was such a contrast to the neighboring Krasnodar Territory; even in the 1990s Russia seemed to be a France or a Sweden for Abkhazians. Today Abkhazia is making a breakthrough, but doesn’t strive for a “Taiwanese miracle.” A living standard of an ordinary person is growing slowly, but the years of postwar non-recognition taught people how to wait, while political crises taught people how to appreciate the existing stability. In 2011-2012 the elections at three levels (municipal, parliamentary, presidential) solved the power issue. Russia’s support is provided actually for free; Russian Army and Fleet protect the republic from any aggression. So, it is difficult to imagine any crisis without a powerful impulse.
However, Abkhazia (however, not only Abkhazia) appears in the news due to extraordinary events which can be considered as daily routine by an outsider. Clashes between political parties and various mini-crises are presented as confirmation of permanent instability in the republic, i.e. Moscow’s wrong policy in the southern direction. Of course, this is not true. Russian experts try to figure the situation out, but they can see only a surface, while Abkhazia’s internal life has always been very complicated. First of all, we should differentiate a real crisis and an artificial crisis, i.e. a test-tube crisis.
President and the government of Abkhazia try to demonstrate that the leadership is able to cope with problems, complete numerous constructions, and provide normal conditions, protection, and security for tourists. The opposition tries to show the opposite situation. Documents which are published by the opposition in Internet and newspapers are full of drama. “Abkhazia is experiencing a deep crisis. It is confirmed by permanent degradation of economy, drastic social diversification in the society, the growth of crime, corruption, drug addiction, the reduction of the birth rate which threatens existence of the nation,” the leader of the radical opposition Raul Khadzhimba told participants of the meeting on March 11. “We don’t want further destabilization in the country and urge the authorities to listen to our demands.”
The situation is paradoxical because Abkhazia has never experienced such a rise since its foundation; but only residents of the republic can feel it. Outsiders may think that the republic is depressed, only by looking at numerous ruins which are 20-year old, even though it is not so.
To be continued
