Ever heard of Abkhazia?

Last October, the domino world championship was held in Sukhumi, the capital of a tiny state known as Abkhazia. As surprising both the domino championship and that "new" territory can be, what is important to us is the questions its participation on a world event had. Abkhazia is a territory only recognized by Russia, Venezuela and other two states. It is situated between the Black Sea, Georgia to the south and Russia to the north, meaning that its existence as an state is not yet approved by most states, such is the case of United States.

The territory, which is fighting to be recognized as a country, is mostly criticized as a territory not respecting human rights. Due to its closeness to Georgia, there has always been conflict between both sides. Between 1992-3 Georgia and Abkhazia entered war and more than 200,000 people were displaced, but even more people had to move out of the territory when the short war between Russia and Georgia in 2008 took place. As a result of all those conflicts now Abkhazia's government is not willing to permit the entrance of all the people who had to move out of their territory, and although since the end of the 1993 it is true that many returnees have had the chance to get to Gali (the closest part of Abkhazia to Georgia), they don't seem to be enjoying the basic civil and political rights.

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Opinion:

I have to say that I had never heard of such an state and even less of its intention to gain a recognized sovereignty, but when I read how the returnees and people living in the territory are treated as a result of Russia's influence and tension with Georgia. At least I think that this must clearly be seen as an international problem in which countries should have a say. Before the territory can move on to be a country with an institutionalized sovereignty, its laws and concessions about human rights have to be revised and taken care for. It is good that this territory has brought itself to the international spotlight by holding a domino championship, but this attempt should not eclipse the real issue, which is not to play with human rights and people's life.

Source: The Guardian UK