Yaganov's* comments on the Lata tragedy sparked outrage in Abkhazia

The President of Abkhazia called Ibrahim Yaganov's* suggestion that the Russian helicopter carrying civilians shot down over the village of Lata blasphemous. The prosecutor's office reported on its investigation.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," December 14 is a day of remembrance and sorrow in Abkhazia for the victims of the Lata tragedy. Mourning events are taking place near the monument erected in Tkuarchal, as well as in the village of Lata and in Gudauta, at the graves of the victims.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Abkhazia announced today an investigation into statements made by Ibragim Yaganov*. "An investigation has been launched into a post circulated on the social network Facebook** containing statements by Ibragim Khasanbievich Yaganov*, justifying the actions of militants from the State Council of Georgia who deliberately shot down a Russian Air Force helicopter in the air over the village of Lata in the Gulrypsh district," the department reported on its Telegram channel.

Abkhazian President Badra Gunbaa called Yaganov's* words "blasphemy, barbarity, and heartlessness." "It is hard to believe that the words 'I must admit that this helicopter could have been a military target' are uttered by a person who holds the high title of Hero of Abkhazia," Gunba noted.

"I believe that with his statements, Ibragim Yaganov* desecrated the memory of innocently murdered children, women, and the elderly, and wounded the soul of every citizen of Abkhazia," Gunba said. His words, "Apsny Press."

The interview with Yaganov* by Georgian and Abkhaz bloggers was published on January 30, specifically, on David Zhvania's YouTube channel. By 9:54 PM Moscow time, the interview had garnered 3,600 views. "I must admit that this helicopter could have been a military target," he says in the recording.

"Caucasian Knot" also wrote that the Russian embassy in Sukhumi in September 2024 expressed outrage at a portrait of Shamil Basayev, captioned "Hero of Abkhazia," presented at an exhibition at the State Museum of Abkhazia. The museum promised to rectify the situation and closed access to the exhibition. Abkhazia should strip Shamil Basayev of his honorary titles and state awards, since "the glorification of a bloody murderer" is unacceptable in a civilized society, said Tamerlan Dzgoev, the human rights ombudsman for North Ossetia, addressing the ombudsman of Abkhazia, Anas Kishmaria. In October of the same year, the State Museum of Abkhazia removed photos of five heroes of Abkhazia, including Shamil Basayev and Ibrahim Yaganov*. The Ministry of Defense explained this by the demand of the head of the department in connection with Yaganov*'s position on Abkhaz-Georgian relations.

In mid-March 2012, Ibrahim Yaganov* visited Georgia on a private visit, after which he gave an interview that was published on several Adyghe websites. Yaganov* said that his visit was connected with the desire to "end this tragic page of history." "Two decades ago, Abkhaz volunteers decided that until Georgia recognizes Abkhazia's independence, the Adyghe will have no relations with it. But the situation has not changed in these 20 years. The war was a tragedy for Abkhazia, Georgia, and the North Caucasus, and this chapter of history must be closed." Representatives of the Union of Abkhaz Volunteers of Kabardino-Balkaria sent an open letter to the media in which they condemned Yaganov's visit to Georgia.

* Added to the register of foreign agents.

** Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.