Activists called to postpone the installation of a monument in Sukhum to the participants of the SMO.

Abkhaz activists sent a collective letter to the authorities requesting to postpone the installation of a monument in Sukhum to the fighters who died in the special military operation (SMO) until the conflict is over. The authors of the appeal noted that there are still no monuments in the city to those who fell during the Georgian-Abkhaz war.

The authors of the letter proposed to return to the discussion of the memorial after the conflict is over

A group of residents of Sukhum sent a collective appeal to the authorities of the republic, deputies of the City Assembly, and the local administration requesting to postpone the installation of a monument to the fighters from Abkhazia who participated in the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. The text of the appeal was published today in the Telegram channel of IA "Aiaashara".

The authors of the appeal stated that the construction of memorial structures requires verification by the time of the historical events that will be commemorated in them. They noted that the SMO is not yet over, and the discussion of the installation of the monument should be revisited when reconciliation among the participants of the conflict occurs.

"No one knows how, when, and under what conditions these two close peoples will first find understanding, and then reconciliation. But this will definitely happen. And only then, after years have passed, we will be able to return to the discussion of the memorial to this historical event," the appeal states.

The authors of the letter also reminded that there are still no monuments in Sukhum to the fighters who fell during the Georgian-Abkhaz war. "If we intend to start the process of solidifying historical memory, we must start precisely with them," the appeal states.

The text of the letter was signed by academician and former deputy Valery Kvarchia, veteran and former deputy Akhra Bzhania, veteran and former deputy Ilya Gunia, veteran and artist Batal Djapua, veteran and associate professor of AGU Adgur Kakoba, and professor and former deputy Guram Gumba.

A monument is planned to be installed in the Sukhum park

The city authorities announced plans to install a monument in Sukhum to the fighters who died in the SMO on July 2. On its website, the city administration explained that the decision was made by the deputies of the City Assembly.

"The decision was made at the initiative of the President of Abkhazia Badra Gunba and based on a letter from the mayor of the capital Timur Agrba," the message states.

The memorial is planned to be installed in the park adjacent to the monument to the Unknown Soldier.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in early July, Sabantuy was celebrated in Abkhazia and "Days of Samara" were held. The events coincided with the memorial dates of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1993. Analysts, as well as some residents of Abkhazia, consider such a combination of events inappropriate, but doubted the presence of malicious intent in this.

Let us remind you that Georgia considers Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be territories occupied by Russia after Russia intervened in the armed conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia on August 8, 2008, and then recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as stated in the "Caucasian Knot" reference on the "Five-Day War" of 2008. Venezuela recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in September 2009.