Residents of Abkhazia mark five years of independence

On August 26, residents of Abkhazia marked the five-year anniversary of the recognition day of the independence of their country. As stated by Irakli Khintba, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, the broadening of the international recognition of the country is one of the key areas of Abkhazian foreign policy.

Let us remind you that August 26 was five years after Russia's recognition of Abkhazia's independence. On August 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a working visit to Abkhazia. On August 26, Abkhazia announced a state holiday and a day off.

As stated by the President of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab, the decision to recognize the independence of the country had changed the political map of the Transcaucasian Region and was fateful for the Abkhazian statehood.

Vitaly Gabnia, the chairman of the public organization of veterans of the 1992-93 Patriotic War of the Abkhaz People "Aruaa", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that recognition of Abkhazia allowed the state to form in a civilized and legal way.

According to Batal Kobakhiya, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Programmes, a very important point for Abkhazia was the receipt of Russia's targeted financial support – this substantial assistance is aimed at restoration of the damaged infrastructure.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili had treated the Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as "lawlessness."