Naima Neflyasheva, a scholar and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explores what it means to "be a man" in Circassian culture. She discusses the rules and norms regarding appearance and behaviour that have developed over centuries, examining what has changed and what remains valued today.
This article was first published on the Sovetskaya Adygeya website and is translated from Russian.
7–8 October 1992 marked a significant milestone for the Abkhaz-Abaza (Abazin) community as the inaugural World Congress convened in the historic village of Lykhny. This event unified representatives from both local and international diasporas, alongside delegates from Circassia; Kabarda, Adygea, Shapsughia, and Abazinia. Amidst the Patriotic War (Georgian-Abkhazian War) of 1992–1993, the Congress played a crucial role in enhancing the morale and solidarity of the Abkhaz people.
Gabriel Chubinidze, in his recent article on Civil.ge, expresses concern over Prof. George Hewitt being invited to participate in the International Kartvelological Congress IV, scheduled to take place on 25-27 September 2024 at the Georgian Academy of Sciences. The article is rife with inaccuracies and distortions, including the baseless claim that AbkhazWorld.com was founded by Prof. Hewitt. Chubinidze’s discomfort with Hewitt's inclusion seems to shape much of the article’s narrative.
Civic organisations in Abkhazia have recently become targets of criticism and unfounded accusations from the current government—particularly during the tenure of former Foreign Minister Inal Ardzinba. Before, such scrutiny was uncommon, but now accusations often focus on claims that NGOs lack tangible results, while disinformation campaigns and "foreign agent" narratives gain traction. Despite these challenges, Abkhazian civil society continues to quietly improve social infrastructure and community well-being.
This article, originally published on the Abkhazian Telegram channel 'OKNO', has been translated from Russian.
Civic organisations often face hostile criticism. In the flood of disinformation about NGOs, there are frequent claims that we have no tangible results from our activities. The principle of "doing good quietly" and the belief that charity should be modest and without noisy publicity have ultimately been used against us. Therefore, we would like to return to the discussion of civil society’s contribution to projects that deliver visible results, such as the improvement of social infrastructure and the well-being of the community. This is particularly important in light of the recent surge in anonymous Telegram channels promoting the foreign agent narrative, which have seen a sudden increase.
Today, on 26 August 2024, we commemorate the 32nd anniversary of Adam Khuade's heroic sacrifice during the Georgian-Abkhazian War of 1992-93. A brave Circassian volunteer, Khuade's courage and dedication left an indelible mark on Abkhazia's history.
Abkhazia is rich not only in natural beauty, sea, and numerous resorts where one can relax and restore health. The country's history and culture are preserved in museums that are also worth visiting. We have compiled a list of some of the must-see museums.
