The parliament of the breakaway region of Abkhazia, which is occupied by Russia, has decided to transfer the ownership of the Bichvinta country house, a historic resort on the Black Sea coast, to the Russian government. The decision, which was made on December 27, 2023, has sparked outrage among the Georgian authorities and the local population, who consider the move as a violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and cultural heritage.
Bichvinta: A Symbol of Georgian History and Culture
The Bichvinta country house, also known as Pitsunda, is a complex of buildings that was built in the 1960s as a holiday resort for the Soviet elite. The complex includes a hotel, a spa, a cinema, a concert hall, and a park. The resort is located near the Bichvinta Cathedral, a 10th-century Orthodox church that is one of the oldest and most revered monuments in Georgia.
The resort has hosted many prominent figures, such as Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, and Georgian writer and public figure Ilia Chavchavadze. The resort was also the venue of the 1964 meeting of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, where Khrushchev was ousted from power.
The resort is considered as a part of Georgia’s historical and cultural legacy, and its transfer to Russia is seen as an attempt to erase the Georgian identity and presence in the region.
Abkhazia: A Disputed Territory Under Russian Occupation
Abkhazia is a region in the northwest of Georgia that declared its independence from Georgia in 1992, following a violent conflict that erupted after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The region is recognized as an integral part of Georgia by most of the international community, but it is supported by Russia, which maintains military and economic presence there. Russia recognized Abkhazia as an independent state in 2008, after a brief war with Georgia over another breakaway region, South Ossetia.
The Georgian government and the international community have repeatedly condemned Russia’s occupation and annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and have called for the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity. The Georgian parliament has adopted a resolution that declares Abkhazia and South Ossetia as Russian-occupied territories, and has established the Ministry of Reconciliation and Civic Equality to deal with the issues related to the conflict resolution and the rights of the internally displaced persons.
The Reaction of the Georgian Authorities and the Local Population
The decision of the Abkhazian parliament to transfer the Bichvinta country house to Russia has been met with strong criticism and protest by the Georgian authorities and the local population. The Georgian Foreign Ministry issued a statement that denounced the decision as a “blatant violation of the fundamental norms and principles of international law, as well as Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. The statement also called on the international community to take “effective measures” to stop Russia’s “illegal actions” and to “ensure the de-occupation of Georgia’s regions”.
The Georgian Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, also expressed his condemnation of the decision, and said that it was a “provocative and cynical act” that aimed to “destroy the historical and cultural heritage of Georgia”. He added that the Georgian parliament would take “all possible steps” to protect the Bichvinta country house and to prevent its transfer to Russia.
The local population of Abkhazia, especially the ethnic Georgians who live in the Gali district near the resort, have also voiced their opposition to the decision. According to the media reports, some of the residents have staged a rally in front of the resort, holding Georgian flags and banners that read “Bichvinta is ours” and “Stop the occupation”. The protesters have also appealed to the international organizations, such as the United Nations and the European Union, to intervene and to protect the resort from being handed over to Russia.
