Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia is deeply concerned with the development of the acute political crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic. The fate of our compatriots in this country is of particular concern for us. Abkhazians living in Syria are an integral part of the Abkhaz people.

Given the complexity of the events in Syria, we cannot remain indifferent to the problems which can be faced by our brothers.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia in collaboration with the State Committee for Repatriation and other state bodies is ready to coordinate efforts in order to facilitate the repatriation of those representatives of the Abkhaz Diaspora in Syria, who wish to return to their historical Homeland.

Sukhum

29.12.2011

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia

Sukhum, The Office of Government Statistics summed up the 1st stage of the census of the Republic of Abkhazia in 2011, resulting from the automated processing of census-returns.

According to the data of the census, conducted in February 2011, the population of the republic stood at 240,705.

The urban population of the Republic represents 50.3% or 121,255 persons, whilst the rural population represents 49.7% or 119,450 persons.

The ratio of men to women was 46.4% and 53.6% respectively. The population-figures for the most numerous nationalities break down as follows: Abkhazians – 122,069; Russians – 22,077; Armenians – 41,864; Georgians – 43,166; Megrelians/Mingrelians – 3,201; Greeks – 1,380.

"National identity during the survey was indicated by the respondents themselves on the basis of self-determination and duly recorded by the census-workers according to the words of the interview," Zoe Avidzba, Head of the Office of State Statistics, made clear in an interview with Apsny Press.

In all, there are living in Abkhazia representatives of 91 nationalities. The age of 37 persons exceeded the 100-year milestone.

According to the preliminary figures provided to Apsny Press by the Office of State Statistics on 28 March, the population of Abkhazia stood at 242,826.

"As a result of the final processing of the database, we removed a little over two thousand double entries," explained Z. Avidzba.

Abkhazians in the Republic make up 50.71%, Armenians 17.39%, Russians 9.17%, Georgians 17.93%.

3,201 persons or 1.33% of the population of Abkhazia declared their "nationality" to be Megrelian/Mingrelian.

12.29.2011  AbkhazWorld.com

The Abkhaz parliament has ratified an agreement with Russia on creation of a joint military base in the republic, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Tuesday.

Russia has signed agreements with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, to set up military bases there for an initial term of 49 years, with possible extensions for an additional 15 years.

The Russian parliament's lower house, the State Duma, ratified the agreement on September 22 and the upper house followed suit on September 28.

The Abkhaz president’s parliamentary representative, Dmitry Shamba, has noted that the military base is to be created “in response to a request by the Abkhaz authorities to deploy Russian military units in the republic’s territory in order to provide military assistance to protect Abkhazia’s sovereignty and security from external and terrorist threats.”

Russia has repeatedly stated its readiness to act as a guarantor of non-use of force agreements between Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

12.27.2011  RIA Novosti